• Politics

New Cambodia-China Military Exercise in Sight

• By Teng Yalirozy
• April 25, 2023 2:05 PM

PHNOM PENH – Cambodia and China will hold another military exercise in mid-2023 to strengthen​ their relationship amid the “dramatic changes and challenges facing the world,” officials say. The drill will focus on training both armies to deliver humanitarian assistance to people in urgent need.

Royal Cambodian Armed Forces Deputy Commander-in-Chief and Chief of Joint Staffs Ith Sarath said on April 25 the new exercise is to be named, “Cambodia-China Joint Exercise of Humanitarian Work in Military Health in Angel of Peace 2023.”

The announcement of this upcoming military exercise comes only a few weeks after the completion of the Golden Dragon 2023 drill, which already involved Cambodia and China’s armies.

Held over two weeks from late March to early April, it was attended by 2,831 participants, including 2,774 members of the Royal Cambodian Armed Forces and 257 members of the Chinese People's Liberation Army.

Bi Guangyuen, head of the Military Medical Cooperation Center of the Logistic Support Department of the Central Military Commission of China, told Ith Sarath that this new exercise highlights the deepening of the relationship between Cambodia and China and has a strategic character.

“No matter how the international situation changes, both countries’ relationship will continue to deepen,” he said.

Guangyuen continued that the military exercise focusing on humanitarian assistance will show the world the increasing cooperation between the two countries, and pledged to build on the relationship established 65 years ago by the two countries’ previous generation of leaders.

“The ironclad friendship and the development of win-win cooperation for mutual benefit promote the building of a common destiny for humanity,” said Guangyuen.

Ith Sarath added that Cambodia and China have already conducted five joint exercises, all of them being held over the past seven years.

Over the years, they have increased in size and have become more modern, thanks to improved equipment. Drills focused mostly on counter-terrorism, disaster relief, and humanitarian work for regional security.

The Golden Dragon Exercise 2023 put the spotlight on security operations at major events and humanitarian relief by the Cambodian and Chinese armies.

Defense Minister Tea Banh​ said the Golden Dragon Exercise 2023 was fruitful, showing the steel friendship between Cambodia and China.

Cambodia and China held military exercises in 2016, 2018, 2019 and 2020. The drills were postponed in 2017 because Cambodia was holding commune/Sangkat council elections and conducting a drug crackdown. They were canceled in 2021 and 2022 due to COVID-19.