China begins joint naval drills with six Southeast Asian nations
- Exercise shows Beijing is keen to boost its influence in region amid growing US activity, analyst says
- Thailand, Philippines, Singapore, Vietnam ‘and others’ will take part in drills off coast of Qingdao, PLA Navy commander says
China said on Thursday it had begun a new round of joint naval exercises with its military partners from six Southeast Asian nations in waters off its east coast.
Vice-Admiral Shen Jinlong, commander of the PLA Navy, said 13 warships and four helicopters would take part in the drills in Qingdao, Shandong province, where China on Tuesday held a naval parade as part of celebrations to mark the 70th anniversary of the founding of its maritime force.
The countries taking part included Thailand, the Philippines, Singapore and Vietnam, Shen said, without naming the other two.
“The joint drills are designed to show China’s sincerity and willingness to work with its neighbours, as well as the PLA Navy’s passion to build a maritime community with a shared future by enhancing security cooperation and mutual trust with all of its counterparts in Southeast Asia,” he was quoted as saying in a statement.
The exercises would focus on ship formations and movement, search and rescue, inspection and capture, and medical procedures among other skills, the statement said, adding that Indonesia and Laos would send observers to the event.