Drill designed to test militaries in outback's harshest conditions

China, Australia and the United States started their first trilateral military exercise on Monday, as Australia is building military links with Washington while seeking to maintain economic ties with Beijing, its biggest trading partner.

Five soldiers from the US Marine Corps, 10 from the People's Liberation Army and 10 from the Australian Army are taking part in the survival training exercise known as KOWARI 14, according to a statement from Australia's Department of Defence.