ANNUAL REPORT

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Space-Tracking Facility in Argentina
China is building a space telemetry, tracking, and control facility
in Argentina. 255 The PLA-affiliated China Satellite Launch and
Tracking Control General is managing the project. 256 The station
will provide China a southern hemisphere node to communicate
with its satellites to download images or conduct orbital adjustments
without waiting for them to fly over Chinese territory. 257
Many observers have suggested the station could have dual-use applications,
such as the ability to track missiles and space assets. 258
The station reportedly will support China’s planned unmanned
missions to the moon and Mars. 259
Military-to-Military Engagement
As China proceeds with an ambitious military modernization program
and gradually institutes reforms aimed at informationization
and integration of its military services, the PLA continues to expand
its engagement with foreign militaries. Since the Commission’s
2015 Annual Report to Congress, the PLA has increased the
number and type of exercises it holds with other countries’ armed
forces. 260 Through such engagement, China seeks to improve its
international standing and enhance its presence abroad while easing
foreign anxieties about the PLA’s growing capabilities and expanding
missions; acquire insights into other militaries’ operations,
doctrine, and training methods (including those of the United
States and U.S. allies and partners); and gain experience operating
newly introduced platforms while helping facilitate defense industrial
cooperation. 261
The PLA’s Bilateral and Multilateral Exercises with Foreign Militaries
Since November 2015, the PLA has been involved in 12 significant
bilateral and multilateral exercises (see Table 1). Several of
these exercises were the first of their kind, including Falcon Strike-
2015 and Joint Evacuation-2016, demonstrating closer cooperation
between the PLA and the militaries of Thailand and the United
Kingdom, respectively. Many focused on non-traditional security
challenges including counterterrorism, antipiracy, and HA/DR.
They have also attempted to ease foreign countries’ anxieties concerning
China’s military modernization and support President Xi’s
foreign policy objectives by seeking to shape the international system
and improve the security environment along China’s periphery.
262 The knowledge and experience acquired from these exercises
can be applied to a variety of missions. The PLA also engaged
in bilateral exercises focusing on missile defense operations and sea
and air combat (some involving live-fire drills) with close defense
partners, including Russia and Pakistan. 263
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