China and Asean to go ahead with first joint naval exercise in sign of greater engagement
Details of the exercise were not given, but observers say it points to an emerging view among the 10-nation bloc that China ‘is not the enemy’
China and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations plan to deepen their military relations and will go ahead with a joint maritime exercise proposed by Beijing, according to a statement from Singapore’s defence ministry, in a sign of greater engagement between the 10-member bloc and the region’s leading economic power.
China’s defence minister, Chang Wanquan, and his Singaporean counterpart, Ng Eng Hen, met on the sidelines of an Asean security meeting in the Philippines, and the two discussed “further practical initiatives to advance Asean-China relations” and plans to conduct an inaugural Asean-China maritime exercise, the statement said.
Singapore is the Asean-China dialogue relations coordinator from 2015 to 2018.
“Singapore supports it,” Ng told reporters when asked about China’s offer to hold maritime exercises. “We will push it … for the very reason that all of Asean and China want that. If you exercise, you at least build understanding and trust.”
He said details, including a suitable location, would be worked out later.
Details of the exercise were not given, but observers said it was likely to involve the nations’ militaries engaging in non-combat drills, such as navigation, signalling, and search and rescue exercises.