Super Garuda Shield vs Falcon Strike: inside the US and China’s military drills

While the US conducts large-scale exercises, analysts say China’s remain constrained by regional suspicion and a lack of interoperability

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Chinese and Thai air force personnel at Falcon Strike 2024. Photo: Facebook/Royal Thai Air Force

Published: 9:30am, 1 Sep 2024

As Indonesia hosts a sprawling joint military operation with its neighbours and the West, a quieter yet telling exercise has just concluded between China and Thailand – reflecting a different approach in Beijing’s quest for regional influence.

The annual Super Garuda Shield drills, which kicked off on Monday and will run until September 5, showcase a formidable coalition, with Indonesian troops joined by military counterparts from around the world – including the United States, Australia, Japan, Britain, France, Canada and Singapore.

By contrast, the Falcon Strike 2024 exercises, held from August 18-29, focused more on strategic aims such as cross-border support and joint air defence – essential components, Chinese state media reported, for “a small-scale war”.

Thailand’s involvement in Falcon Strike reveals its cautious stance towards the US, according to Yokie Rahmad Isjchwansyah, a research fellow at the Paramadina Graduate School of Diplomacy in Jakarta, particularly after Washington’s rejection of its bid for F-35 stealth fighter jets last year.

The US reportedly withheld the sale of its advanced F-35s – which are sold only to its closest allies like Australia, Japan, South Korea and Singapore – due to concerns over training and technical requirements.

The opening ceremony of last year’s Falcon Strike drills between China and Thailand. Photo: PLA Air Force

While Washington engages its military in multilateral drills, such as the Malabar naval exercises with India and Japan, China has concentrated on building bilateral partnerships. Over the past year, it has conducted military exercises with Laos, Cambodia and Singapore, highlighting its intent to strengthen regional ties despite lingering suspicions among some Southeast Asian nations.

Super Garuda Shield vs Falcon Strike: inside the US and China’s military drills

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}While the US conducts large-scale exercises, analysts say China’s remain constrained by regional suspicion and a lack of interoperability

While the US conducts large-scale exercises, analysts say China’s remain constrained by regional suspicion and a lack of interoperability