The People’s Liberation Army has been conducting a joint military exercise with Cambodia, Laos, Malaysia, Thailand and Vietnam since Sunday. The theme of the drill is “Peace and Friendship,” 和平友谊 and it is being held for the fourth time. The official objectives are “joint counter-terrorism and military operations on safeguarding maritime security.” It involves both ground forces and the navy.
The drills are considered a foreign policy instrument to prevent ASEAN neighbors from forming military ties with the United States. China has few actual allies in the region and is in chronic territorial disputes along its maritime borders. fin
The People’s Liberation Army has been conducting a joint military exercise with Cambodia, Laos, Malaysia, Thailand and Vietnam since Sunday. The theme of the drill is “Peace and Friendship,” 和平友谊 and it is being held for the fourth time. The official objectives are “joint counter-terrorism and military operations on safeguarding maritime security.” It involves both ground forces and the navy.
The drills are considered a foreign policy instrument to prevent ASEAN neighbors from forming military ties with the United States. China has few actual allies in the region and is in chronic territorial disputes along its maritime borders. fin
