Exercises Military Diplomacy

China, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, and Tajikistan Conduct New Round of Border Disarmament Treaty Compliance Inspections

中哈吉俄塔开展新一轮边境裁军履约视察

PLA Daily (解放军报) 13 June 2026

Summary

From June 9–11, a nine-member joint military inspection team from Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, and Tajikistan entered China through the Khorgos port of entry, traveled to a regiment of the Xinjiang Military District, and conducted on-site compliance inspections of personnel establishment, equipment types, and cantonment facilities under the 1996–1997 Shanghai Agreements framework; a reciprocal Chinese team is scheduled to inspect Kazakhstan's Lembek Border Guard Sub-bureau in the Zhonzha region on June 15. The article documents the operational mechanics of the Shanghai Agreements inspection regime at its 30th anniversary — specifically that China is granting foreign military inspectors direct access to a named Xinjiang Military District regiment, including its storage facilities and cantonment layout, which extends the public record of how China implements military transparency obligations on its western flank. The framing around 'community of shared destiny' and the explicit listing of cooperation areas (security law enforcement, border control, transnational crime) confirms that Beijing is using the inspection cycle as a vehicle for broader SCO-adjacent political messaging, not merely treaty compliance.

Translation

PLA Daily, Ili, June 12 — Reported by correspondents Wang Yue and Gao Yao: From June 9 to 11, a joint military inspection team composed of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, and Tajikistan conducted border disarmament treaty compliance inspections along the western section of the China-Kazakhstan border. This constitutes a new round of border disarmament treaty compliance inspections carried out by the Chinese side and the joint side.

Not long ago, pursuant to the Agreement on Confidence-Building Measures in the Military Field in Border Areas signed by China, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, and Tajikistan in 1996, and the Agreement on Mutual Reduction of Military Forces in Border Areas signed in 1997 (collectively referred to as the "Two Agreements"), military inspection teams from the Chinese side and the joint side (Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, and Tajikistan) successfully conducted the first round of border disarmament treaty compliance inspections along the eastern section of the China-Russia border.

This year marks the 30th anniversary of the signing of the Agreement on Confidence-Building Measures in the Military Field in Border Areas among China, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, and Tajikistan. This correspondent learned from the Chinese escort group that over the years, the five countries have carried out highly effective cooperation in security law enforcement, border control, and combating transnational crime, deepening mutual political trust and military cooperation, creating a secure and stable external environment for the development of the five countries, and providing an important pillar for building a community of shared destiny (命运共同体) in the surrounding region.

On the morning of the 9th, accompanied by Chinese personnel, the nine-member joint military inspection team entered through the Khorgos port of entry and traveled by vehicle to a regiment of the Xinjiang Military District to conduct the inspection.

At a preparatory meeting held that afternoon, relevant responsible personnel of the regiment under the Xinjiang Military District provided a detailed briefing on matters including the unit's personnel establishment, equipment types, and cantonment layout.

Following the briefing, the joint inspection team conducted on-site inspections of multiple general storage and facility rooms within the cantonment, and expressed full affirmation of the Chinese side's treaty compliance work.

Upon returning to the conference room, the head of the joint inspection team, Lieutenant Colonel Sadvakasov of the Kazakhstani Ministry of Defense, signed the inspection report. He stated: "Our Chinese colleagues demonstrated a professional, open, and conscientious working spirit. We will continue, in accordance with the requirements of the 'Two Agreements,' to jointly maintain security and stability in the border areas and earnestly fulfill our mission responsibilities."

During the inspection activities, both the Chinese and joint sides also continued to deepen military mutual trust and strengthen mutual friendship through symposiums, exchanges, and reciprocal visits to border cities.

Bidding farewell to the joint inspection team, Gao Yadong, head of the Chinese escort group, told this correspondent: "Throughout this border disarmament treaty compliance inspection, the Chinese side consistently upheld the principles of military transparency, confidence-building, and equal security, strictly fulfilled all obligations stipulated in the agreements, and coordinated fully with the joint inspection team throughout the entire process, ensuring that the inspection activities proceeded smoothly and in an orderly manner."

It is understood that a nine-member inspection team from the Chinese side is actively preparing and plans to enter Kazakhstan through the Khorgos port of entry on June 15 to conduct border disarmament treaty compliance inspections of the Lembek Border Guard Sub-bureau in Kazakhstan's Zhonzha region.

Original Chinese

解放军报伊犁6月12日电记者王越、高垚报道：6月9日至11日，由哈萨克斯坦、吉尔吉斯斯坦、俄罗斯、塔吉克斯坦组成的联方军事视察组，在中哈边界西段进行边境裁军履约视察。这是中联双方开展的新一轮边境裁军履约视察。前不久，根据中哈吉俄塔1996年签署的《关于在边境地区加强军事领域信任的协定》和1997年签署的《关于在边境地区相互裁减军事力量的协定》（合称“两个协定”），中方和联方（哈吉俄塔）的军事视察组已在中俄边界东段顺利组织了首轮边境裁军履约视察。今年是中哈吉俄塔《关于在边境地区加强军事领域信任的协定》签署30周年。记者从中方陪同组获悉，多年来，五国在安全执法、边境管控、打击跨国犯罪等方面开展了卓有成效的合作，增进了彼此间的政治互信和军事合作，为五国发展营造了安全稳定的外部环境，成为构建周边命运共同体的重要支撑。 9日上午，在中方人员陪同下，联方军事视察组一行9人从霍尔果斯口岸入境，乘车前往新疆军区某团开展视察。在当日下午举行的预备会议上，新疆军区某团相关负责人就所属人员编制、装备型号、营区分布等事项进行了详细介绍。听取情况介绍后，联方视察组对营区多个综合库室进行了现地视察，并对中方履约工作情况给予了充分肯定。返回会议室后，联方视察组组长、哈萨克斯坦国防部萨德瓦卡索夫中校签署了视察报告。他表示：“中方同事们展现了专业、开放、认真的工作精神。我们将继续依据‘两个协定’要求，共同维护边境地区安全稳定，认真履行使命责任。” 视察活动期间，中联双方还通过座谈交流、相互参观边境城市等方式，持续深化军事互信、增进彼此友谊。送别联方视察组，中方陪同组组长高亚东告诉记者：“此次边境裁军履约视察，中方始终秉持军事透明、增进互信、平等安全的原则，严格履行了协定规定的各项义务，全程协同配合联方视察组开展工作，确保了视察活动平稳有序。” 据悉，由中方9人组成的视察组正在积极准备，计划于6月15日经霍尔果斯口岸进入哈萨克斯坦，对哈方琼扎地区莱姆别克边防分局进行边境裁军履约视察。