China's People's Liberation Army (PLA) deployed four transport helicopters along with 64 rescue personnel Sept. 21 to assist in Pakistan's flood relief efforts, the first overseas rescue mission for a Chinese military helicopter squadron. The helicopters will engage in aerial support for flood victims, along with bringing Chinese ground personnel and relief supplies to affected areas. The helicopters departed from Hetian airport, in China's Xinjiang Uighur Autonomous Region, and though reports did not indicate in what region of Pakistan the helicopters would operate, a prior Chinese flood assistance mission reportedly landed at the Chaklala air base in Rawalpindi and in Thatta, Sindh province — and there are numerous flood-hit areas requiring helicopter assistance. China is by no means the first foreign military on the scene, but it has attracted attention as other states watch China's rapid military development and ability to deploy overseas. Deploying military helicopters in Pakistan serves Beijing's interests in four key ways: improving the PLA's disaster-response capabilities; expanding its international operations; strengthening its relationship with Pakistan; and projecting a beneficent image throughout the region.
