Kuala Lumpur (VNA) – China, Malaysia and Thailand started theirfirst joint military exercise in the Malaysian resort town of Port Dickson onOctober 24.
The exercise Aman Youyi 2018, which will last until the endof October 29, is an extension of the annual joint drill between China andMalaysia that began in 2014.
Speaking at the opening ceremony at a military base in PortDickson, Malaysian Armed Forces Joint Force Commander Vice Admiral SyedZahiruddin Putra said that the exercise will help plan and conduct futuredrills to better the capacity of the three countries’ defence forces in otheroperations such as humanitarian assistance and disaster relief operation, maritimesecurity and counterterrorism.
The exercise consists of a land exercise and a maritimeexercise, with the latter involving Malaysia and China.
China has sent 693 personnel, a destroyer and a frigate forthe exercise; and Malaysia, 592 personnel with two frigates and twohelicopters. For its part, Thailand has sent 54 personnel but no militaryasset.
The exercise comes as China has been engaged in the firstjoint naval exercise with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN)off Zhanjiang, Guangdong province, which is taking place from October22-28.-VNA