Facts & Figures: Chinese air force observes 65th anniversary

The People's Liberation Army (PLA) Air Force will observe its 65th anniversary next week during the Airshow China 2014, which is to be held from Nov 11-16.

The following are some facts and figures showing a more transparent and confident PLA Air Force:

-- In the last five years, the PLA Air Force has participated in 13 joint military drills with foreign armed forces, including the just-completed "Peace Mission-2014" joint anti-terror drill, one of the largest in recent years.

-- The PLA Air Force has, since 2010, become one of the organizers of the China International Aviation & Aerospace Exhibition (Airshow China), a biennial airshow on the Chinese mainland. The airshow has become a platform for the outside world to learn about the PLA Air Force.

-- The August 1st Aerobatics Team of the PLA Air Force, which is equipped with J-10 fighters, took part in the "Marx-2013" International Aviation and Aerospace Exhibition in Moscow, the team's first foreign trip since its establishment in 1962.

-- In October, 35 cadets of foreign military academies from 14 countries spent one week at the Aviation University of the Air Force in Changchun, capital of northeast China's Jilin Province. It was the second event of its kind to see Chinese and foreign military academy cadets live and train together since 2012.

-- The PLA Air Force has invited foreign military attaches over the years to attend military drills, visit military facilities and inspect weapons and equipment designed and manufactured with Chinese technology.

-- China hosted two military flight training conferences in 2010 and 2012, part of its expanding efforts to cooperate with other countries in information sharing and coping with new challenges.

-- The PLA Air Force deployed four aircraft at short notice after the Libya crisis escalated and posed a security threat to Chinese citizens in 2011. A total of 1,655 people (including 240 Nepalese) were evacuated from Libya to Sudan, among whom 287 Chinese nationals were transferred back home.

-- The PLA Air Force has frequently taken part in international humanitarian aid operations, delivering medicine, tents and water supplies to disaster-hit areas in Pakistan, Mongolia and Thailand over the years.

-- The PLA Air Force has been searching for missing Malaysian flight MH370 throughout the region, including the Gulf of Thailand, Andaman Sea and South Indian Ocean, since the plane disappeared on March 8.