China, Laos begin weeks of ‘Friendship Shield 2023’ joint military drills

Exercises in Laos will simulate fighting against ‘illegal activities by transnational armed criminal groups’, according to Xinhua

China has been trying to shore up ties in the region, holding naval drills with Cambodia in March and with Singapore last week

Reading Time:2 minutes

The neighbouring countries are holding joint military exercises in Laos until May 28. Photo: Xinhua

Published: 6:23pm, 12 May 2023

Neighbours China and Laos have begun weeks of joint military exercises aimed at improving coordination against transnational armed criminal groups.

The drills in Laos – known as “Friendship Shield 2023” – will see personnel firing multiple types of weapons, single-unit combat training, detachment tactics and support for combat operations, Chinese state news agency Xinhua said.

An opening ceremony was held on Thursday at the Laotian military’s Kommadam Academy, with the exercises expected to run until May 28.

More than 900 troops will take part in “Friendship Shield 2023”. Photo: Xinhua

China has been trying to shore up military ties with other countries in Southeast Asia, holding its first naval drills with ally Cambodia in March and conducting sea exercises with Singapore last week.

Both drills were overseen by the Chinese People’s Liberation Army’s Southern Theatre Command, and it is also involved in the joint exercises with Laos. The command is in charge of defence in southern China and the South China Sea, most of which Beijing lays claim to despite an international ruling that invalidated its claim.

China and Laos conducted joint humanitarian exercises in July last year, where troops simulated military rescue missions on a train with pandemic control equipment on board. It was part of the “Peace Train” medical drills between the two armed forces on the China-Laos Railway, a flagship project under Beijing’s Belt and Road Initiative.

In the latest drills, the PLA and Laotian military will simulate fighting against “illegal activities by transnational armed criminal groups” based in the jungle and mountainous areas, Xinhua reported on Thursday.