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Mongolian Troops Arrive In China for Steppe Partner 2026 Joint Army Training
China Military Online (EN)
28 May 2026
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Summary
Mongolian troops crossed into China at Erenhot on May 26 and arrived at a joint training base in Inner Mongolia on May 27 for Steppe Partner 2026, the first iteration of the bilateral exercise series held on Chinese soil; the Chinese contingent is built around an armored brigade of the 79th Group Army and incorporates firepower, operational support, and logistics elements. The venue shift from Mongolia to China extends the Steppe Partner format—inaugurated in 2024—and documents PLA Northern Theater-area forces hosting a foreign land force at a domestic training base, a step beyond the reciprocal-visit model typical of small-partner exercises. What remains unknown is the exercise's duration, the scale of the Mongolian contingent, and which specific training tasks are planned.
First time the 'Steppe Partner' series has been held on Chinese territory, representing a notable shift from the inaugural 2024 exercise and signaling deepened China-Mongolia military cooperation at a PLA home installation.
Translation
BEIJING, May 28 -- On May 27, the first batch of Mongolian troops participating in the China-Mongolia "Steppe Partner 2026" joint army training arrived at a joint training base in north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region. This marks the first time that the "Steppe Partner" series of joint exercises has been held within China's territory, following the inaugural joint training between the two armies in 2024. On the early morning of May 26, the Mongolian military train crossed the border through the land port of Erenhot. Then, the Mongolian troops transferred to a Chinese train and continued their journey to the designated joint training base. On the morning of May 27, the train carrying the Mongolian troops arrived at the unloading station of the training base, where a welcome ceremony was held by the Chinese side. The Chinese participating troops are primarily composed of armored troops assigned to a brigade under the Chinese PLA 79th Group Army, incorporating firepower assault, operational support, logistics support, and many other specialized elements.
Original text
BEIJING, May 28 -- On May 27, the first batch of Mongolian troops participating in the China-Mongolia "Steppe Partner 2026" joint army training arrived at a joint training base in north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region. This marks the first time that the "Steppe Partner" series of joint exercises has been held within China's territory, following the inaugural joint training between the two armies in 2024. On the early morning of May 26, the Mongolian military train crossed the border through the land port of Erenhot. Then, the Mongolian troops transferred to a Chinese train and continued their journey to the designated joint training base. On the morning of May 27, the train carrying the Mongolian troops arrived at the unloading station of the training base, where a welcome ceremony was held by the Chinese side. The Chinese participating troops are primarily composed of armored troops assigned to a brigade under the Chinese PLA 79th Group Army, incorporating firepower assault, operational support, logistics support, and many other specialized elements.
