China and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) will hold their first joint air force drill in August to bolster military cooperation, a move that analysts say sends a message to the United States about the UAE's security options.
The Falcon Shield-2023 joint exercise will take place in China's Xinjiang Province, the Chinese Defense Ministry stated on July 31, without specifying the dates and scope of the training.
"This is the first joint training between both air forces, aiming to deepen pragmatic exchanges and cooperation between the two militaries and enhance mutual understanding and trust," the ministry said in a statement.
The joint exercise is being hailed by state-run Chinese media as "a good start" for the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) to "enhance military exchanges and cooperation with countries in the Middle East."
The UAE may use its joint drill with China to send "a message" to the United States, analysts say. Defense analyst Zafer Al Ajami told Breaking Defense that it demonstrates that the UAE "still has choices in managing [its] security the best way it can think of."
