Five‑country inspectors complete disarmament verification on China‑Russia border
On Tuesday, a group of military inspectors from Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia and Tajikistan conducted a verification of disarmament compliance on the eastern section of the China‑Russia border, marking the final stage of the 2026 annual inspections. The inspection team, accompanied by Chinese military personnel, entered China through the Suifenhe port on Tuesday morning to inspect the Jixi military unit in Heilongjiang Province in northeastern China. During the inspection, the team heard a detailed report from the Chinese side, including troop deployment, barracks distribution and personnel presence. The team then conducted an on‑site inspection of the unit. They fully recognised China's work and signed the inspection report.
Prior to this, a Chinese inspection team had conducted an inspection of Russia's 338th Guards Rocket and Artillery Brigade on 26 August and confirmed that its equipment, personnel and deployment locations met the requirements. This year marks the 30th anniversary of the establishment of the joint inspection group of the five countries. In 1996, the five countries signed the Agreement on Confidence‑Building in the Military Field along the Border Areas; in 1997, they signed the Agreement on Mutual Reduction of Military Forces in Border Areas. Under these two agreements, China and the joint side (Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia and Tajikistan) are required to conduct four rounds of inspections of each other's border forces and technical equipment deployed within 100 kilometres on both sides of the border, totalling eight inspections per year.
The joint inspection mechanism was established in 1996 and has become an important element of confidence‑building between China and the four Central Asian countries and Russia. Over three decades, the inspections have helped reduce tensions and prevent conflicts in border areas. The 30th anniversary of this mechanism highlights its effectiveness and sustainability. In 2026, both sides conducted all scheduled inspections, confirming mutual compliance with the agreements. Russia and China, as the largest neighbours, demonstrate that even under complex geopolitical conditions, stability can be maintained through dialogue and verification.
As CCTV+ reports, the completion of the annual inspections marked an important step in maintaining peace and stability on the China‑Russia border. The mechanism, which has been in place for 30 years, has proven its effectiveness and remains a foundation of trust between the countries. Inspections will continue next year, allowing the achieved level of transparency and mutual understanding to be maintained.
