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The China International Search and Rescue (CISAR) team arrives in Lijiang aboard the Y-20 military aircraft for Emergency Mission 2023 earthquake relief exercise in Yunnan Province on May 16. (Photo by Luan Cheng)

By Luan Cheng and Jiang Boxi

LIJIANG, May 17 -- The Office of the State Council Earthquake Relief Headquarters, the Ministry of Emergency Management (MEM) and the Yunnan Provincial Government jointly held the "Emergency Mission 2023" earthquake relief exercise in Lijiang City, Yunnan Province, on May 16, with forces of the Chinese People"s Liberation Army (PLA), Chinese People"s Armed Police Force (PAP) and the militia involved in.

Set on the scenario of earthquakes and resultant secondary disasters in the alpine and canyon areas, this air-ground relief exercise aimed to comprehensively test and improve integrated emergency response capabilities of various disaster relief forces in such geographic regions.

The PLA Southern Theater Command deployed over 900 military emergency response personnel, together with more than 1,600 pieces (sets) of equipment, to participate in drills on over 20 subjects including emergency air-ground delivery, air-ground joint search and rescue, and secondary disaster management.

It also arranged specialized forces in information communication, mapping and navigation, meteorology and hydrology, and other disciplines to continuously provide situational awareness of the losses and the rescue progress in disaster-hit areas offering support for commanding and decision-making in disaster relief operation.

A helicopter attached to an air assault brigade of the PLA 75th Group Army participates in Emergency Mission 2023 earthquake relief exercise in Yunnan Province on May 16. (Photo by Luan Cheng)

The military and civilian forces jointly erect a mechanized bridge to connect the "earthquake-stricken” roads during the Emergency Mission 2023 earthquake relief exercise in Yunnan Province on May 16. (Photo by Luan Cheng)

A disaster relief soldier operates a mechanical dog for search and rescue during the Emergency Mission 2023 earthquake relief exercise in Yunnan Province on May 16. (Photo by Luan Cheng)

PAP soldiers and militias stationed in Lijiang rush to fight the fire during the Emergency Mission 2023 earthquake relief exercise in Yunnan Province on May 16. (Photo by Luan Cheng)