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Peace Mission: When real life is better than TV

By Li Xiaokun and Peng Kuang (China Daily)
Updated: 2009-07-27 08:27

In January, a China Central Television series entitled Peace Mission, which was based on the first joint exercise between China and Russia in 2005, made its debut.

It became one of the most popular shows in military barracks nationwide.

Senior colonel (SC) Zhang Xudong knew all about the series, even though he never found time to watch it. Now, he finds himself the real-life hero of the series of the future.

"I learned that our military command will shoulder the task for the Peace Mission 2009 drill with Russia on Feb 14," he said.

"I clearly remember the moment. In peaceful days, it's every military officer's dream to be involved in the command of a massive drill but only a few in China can realize it," said SC Zhang of Shenyang Military Area and head of the Center for Commanding and Decision-making for Peace Mission 2009.

Special coverage: Peace Mission 2009 Related readings:  Explosive ending to anti-terrorism exercise  Peace Mission 2009 Day 2  'Peace Mission-2009' joint anti-terror military exercise  China, Russia kick off anti-terror drill  Joint training before the start of Peace Mission 2009 military drill

And almost right away, he realized the enormity of the challenge.

"Due to the late decision to hold the drill, we only had three months to prepare for it," said SC Zhang.

He never managed to get out of his office before midnight and said goodbye to his weekends as he got ready.

After 48 days, those behind the drill had built up a well-equipped 148,000-sq-m village capable of housing 3,000 soldiers.

Zhang said it was difficult at first communicating with his Russian counterpart through an interpreter, now they know each other so well they can understand an expression in the other's eye.

On Friday, Zhang toasted the deputy commander of Russia's Far East Command. "I felt deep in my heart that Russian troops and our troops are treating each other as trusted friends."

In the TV series, the hero was a doctor from the University of National Defense, China's top military university, who tried to use his knowledge to the benefit of the exercise. 46, Zhang, who has a postgraduate degree in joint operational command from the same university, is doing likewise.