The traditionally army-dominated Chinese military in its latest drill introduced a joint command made up of chiefs from different armed forces.

Commanders in the Jinan Military Area, where the eight-day "Coalition 209" drill ended on Sunday, said the joint exercise is the first of its kind in the army's history to include the navy, the air force as well as the second artillery, the army's nuclear weaponry division, along with the land force during the operation command.

The armed police and local governments in Shandong and Henan also became part of the decision-making body for the first time.