China and Asean mount maritime exercises in calmer diplomatic waters
But Vietnam stays away from joint drills off the coast of Guangdong
China and members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) have held their largest joint maritime rescue exercise, signalling a lull in South China Sea tensions.
The drill on Tuesday simulated a collision between a Chinese passenger ship and a Cambodian cargo vessel off Guangdong province.
It involved about 1,000 rescuers aboard 20 ships and three helicopters, according to reports in Chinese state media late on Tuesday.
China, Thailand, the Philippines, Cambodia, Myanmar, Laos and Brunei took part, with Vietnam notably absent.
The exercise followed meetings between the Chinese and Singaporean defence ministers on the sidelines of the 11th Asean Defence Ministers’ Meeting in the Philippines last month.
China asserts sovereignty over almost all of the South China Sea in the face of rival claims from its Southeast Asian neighbours, including four Asean members. It has rapidly reclaimed reefs, creating artificial islands capable of hosting military planes.