Why are China, US – and other major powers – stepping up military drills with Southeast Asia?

Experts say China is trying to position itself as an alternative security partner to the US, as it steps up ‘military diplomacy’ joint exercises

Heightened South China Sea tensions could put pressure on Asean member states not to pursue closer defence ties with Beijing, one observer said

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Navy personnel from the Chinese People’s Liberation Army disembark from China’s guided missile frigate during a defence exhibition held at Singapore’s Changi Naval Base earlier this month. Photo: Reuters

Published: 9:30am, 29 May 2023Updated: 1:26pm, 29 May 2023

China is seeking to position itself as an alternative security partner to the United States as it increasingly carries out “military diplomacy” with joint exercises in the region involving Southeast Asian nations, experts say.

This month, China and Laos held the Friendship Shield 2023 drills, which involved an array of weaponry, combat training and support operations. The China-Singapore Exercise Maritime Cooperation was also held in waters off Singapore, where both countries conducted anti-sea mining and live-fire naval artillery shooting exercises.

In April, Chinese and Vietnamese coastguards conducted joint patrols in Beibu Gulf, while China and Cambodia held the Golden Dragon 2023 joint exercise which included a live-fire exercise dealing with a mock terror attack.

Fu Qianshao, a Chinese military expert cited by nationalistic tabloid Global Times, said China would continue to bolster its ties with Southeast Asian countries to build a peaceful and stable environment “at a time when the US has been stirring up troubles in the region”.

Soldiers at the launch ceremony of the China-Laos Friendship Shield-2023 joint exercise earlier this month. Photo: Xinhua

The issue is likely to come up in this weekend’s Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore, which will be attended by defence honchos and policymakers with a stake in the security of the Asia-Pacific.

Paul J. Smith, a professor at the US Naval War College who spoke to This Week In Asia in a personal capacity, described the increased joint drills as attempts at returning to pre-pandemic levels of operations, which were also aimed at responding to what China perceives as the assertive actions of the US and its allies.