On April 29, China announced that China and Mongolia will launch the "Steppe Partner-2024" joint army training from the end of April to the beginning of May, and the training will be held in the southern province of Mongolia.
This training is very special, in previous years, the "steppe partners" were all joint training of the United States and Mongolian Army, but this year, the country that carried out joint training with the Mongolian Army has been changed from the United States to China, and the amount of information released is very large. In addition, the mainland also attaches great importance to this, and dispatches a battalion of about 300-500 people, which is also equipped with various weapons and wheeled equipment. The main theme of the training was to respond to the activities of illegal armed groups, with a focus on the protection of civilians and vulnerable groups.
Mongolia unequivocally rejects the United States and does not dare to lose the partnership between China and Russia
The reason why Mongolia chose to change its training targets this year, from the United States to China, is related to the announcement of the Mongolian Embassy in Russia some time ago. Not long ago, the Mongolian Embassy in Russia said that the United States has repeatedly mentioned to Mongolia that it wants to send US troops into Mongolia to set up military bases, but the Mongolian side has refused, on the grounds that, according to the Mongolian Constitution, no country can set up military bases in Mongolia.
The reason why the United States wants to set up a military base in Mongolia is mainly aimed at China and Russia. After all, Mongolia has a special geographical location and is in the "hinterland of China and Russia". If a military base can be set up here, it will be equivalent to choking the neck of China and Russia. Therefore, the United States has always wanted to win over Mongolia, and Mongolia has always been interested in getting closer to the United States because it is unwilling to be caught in the middle between China and Russia.
In August 2023, Mongolian Prime Minister Oyun Erden took the initiative to visit the United States. The visit to the United States confirmed a number of cooperation between Mongolia and the United States, such as the opening of direct shipping routes between the United States and Mongolia, and the development of rare earth cooperation.
The United States has made its small calculations very clear: first wooing Mongolia from an economic point of view, and then mentioning the establishment of a military base in Mongolia, Mongolia should not refuse. So this year, the United States mentioned this matter to Mongolia again, but it did not expect to be rejected miserably.
However, Mongolia's refusal is also reasonable, although the United States has given them many benefits, but these benefits are unreliable. Whether the pie drawn by the United States can fight hunger or not, just look at Ukraine. Moreover, no matter how great the benefits the United States gives? Once it completely tears its face with China and Russia, and China and Russia blockade their airspace, the United States will not be able to enter Mongolia? When the time comes, it will be in vain to say anything. Moreover, because Mongolia is located between China and Russia, it will be easily liquidated by these two powers. At that time, Mongolia will really call the heavens and the earth to be ineffective.
In addition, the benefits to be obtained from the United States are far less abundant and reliable than maintaining long-term friendly relations with China and Russia. For example, with the help of China and Russia, Mongolia's railways, roads and other infrastructure have become more convenient, and the trade volume between the three parties has also increased year by year. In addition, Mongolia can also make huge profits from the Sino-Russian gas infrastructure, which the United States cannot give. If Mongolia really can't think of choosing to agree to the United States, it will be really stupid.
What did the People's Liberation Army have in mind when it sent troops north?
China's choice to send troops north this time is not only because the United States intends to set up a military base in Mongolia, but also for many other reasons. Cooperation between China and Mongolia is very important, if Mongolia really moves closer to the United States, the supply of energy and mineral resources on the mainland will be hit hard, you must know that Mongolia's energy and mineral resources are richer than China's, and the amount sold to China every year is very large. If Mongolia stops supplying energy and mineral resources to China because of U.S. relations, China will inevitably be affected.
The Sino-Russian Siberia-2 gas pipeline should pass through Mongolia, strengthening close ties with the Mongolian side and contributing to the smooth development of the project.
In addition, after the United States is rejected by Mongolia, it is difficult to guarantee that they will not threaten China and Russia by other means, and may even attack Mongolia. If this is the case, China should make preparations as soon as possible, especially for the security of China-Russia economic and trade routes. The PLA can use this training to improve its ability to coordinate operations against Mongolia, effectively ensure the safety of this economic and trade route, and prevent the United States from making small moves.
As of 2023, the United States has more than 900 overseas military bases deployed around the world. Under the banner of "protecting allies", these military bases are in fact surveillance and deterrence, and if any country is disobedient, the United States will use these military bases to strike at disobedient countries, such as China.
If Mongolia agrees to allow the US military to set up a military base, its ability to contain China and Russia will definitely be stronger than that of Ukraine, Taiwan and other forces. China and Russia have nothing to do with the establishment of diplomatic relations between the United States and Mongolia, but if Mongolia does something that touches the bottom line of China and Russia, it will inevitably pay a corresponding price. On the other hand, this is also Mongolia's goodwill and position to China and Russia: I may be very close to the United States, but I still know what to do on some key issues.