Latest news with #ExerciseGoldenDragon2025
Miami Herald
3 days ago
- Politics
- Miami Herald
Footage Shows China and Ally Flexing Military Muscles
The Chinese military released footage showing it and Cambodia, one of Beijing's closest partners in Southeast Asia, conducting a military drill near the contested South China Sea. The bilateral exercise, code-named Golden Dragon 2025 and held in Cambodia, enhanced both sides' capabilities in "jointly maintaining maritime security," said the Chinese navy on X, formerly Twitter. The drill demonstrated both countries' militaries "have been well aligned in partnership for responding to all kinds of security threats," the Cambodian Defense Ministry said. China has described its relations with Cambodia as "unbreakable and rock-solid," with both sides maintaining close military cooperation, including the construction of a joint logistics and training center at Cambodia's Ream naval base, which was put into service in April. The center, which is China's second publicly acknowledged overseas base, enables the East Asian power to project and sustain its military presence in the South China Sea, where its territorial claims cover most of the waters and overlap with those of neighboring countries. In a video released on X (formerly Twitter) on Wednesday, the Chinese navy announced that a "combined joint field training exercise" was conducted at sea and in the air near Port Sihanoukville in Southwestern Cambodia, as part of Exercise Golden Dragon 2025, on Monday local time. Chinese and Cambodian naval vessels were seen sailing in formation, the footage shows, while military personnel boarded a ship, subdued suspected hijackers, and rescued hostages. A Chinese Type 056A corvette, CNS Panzhihua, fired its gun at sea targets during the drill. Zhang Xiaogang, spokesperson for the Chinese Defense Ministry, stated on Thursday that the seventh iteration of the Exercise Golden Dragon series, which commenced on May 14 and concluded on Wednesday, focused on counterterrorism and humanitarian assistance operations. The exercise marked the first time the recently inaugurated joint center at Ream naval base was used to support drills at sea, the Chinese spokesperson said, claiming that the war game enhanced the two militaries' "command coordination and emergency response capabilities." Meanwhile, the Cambodian Defense Ministry stated that the joint exercise achieved "excellent results," noting that the two militaries overcame obstacles and difficulties and are now ready to contribute to maintaining peace and security in the region and worldwide. Zhang Xiaogang, spokesperson for the Chinese Defense Ministry, said on Thursday: "China and Cambodia are iron-clad friends with rock-solid relations. The Chinese and Cambodian militaries will work in concert to act on the important consensus between leaders of the two countries." Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet said on April 12: "I highly appreciate China, which is an important partner supporting Cambodia's development in all sectors in all circumstances and without complicated conditions." It remains unclear whether China will conduct further military exercises in Cambodia as tensions in the South China Sea remain high, with the United States having deployed an aircraft carrier to the region. Related Articles China Reacts to Trump Tariffs BombshellChinese Bombers Seen in South China Sea Amid US Aircraft Carrier PatrolHow China Became the World's Largest Debt CollectorChina Learns New Lessons From Russia-Ukraine War: Report 2025 NEWSWEEK DIGITAL LLC.
Newsweek
3 days ago
- General
- Newsweek
Footage Shows China and Ally Flexing Military Muscles
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. The Chinese military released footage showing it and Cambodia, one of Beijing's closest partners in Southeast Asia, conducting a military drill near the contested South China Sea. The bilateral exercise, code-named Golden Dragon 2025 and held in Cambodia, enhanced both sides' capabilities in "jointly maintaining maritime security," said the Chinese navy on X, formerly Twitter. The drill demonstrated both countries' militaries "have been well aligned in partnership for responding to all kinds of security threats," the Cambodian Defense Ministry said. Why It Matters China has described its relations with Cambodia as "unbreakable and rock-solid," with both sides maintaining close military cooperation, including the construction of a joint logistics and training center at Cambodia's Ream naval base, which was put into service in April. Chinese and Cambodian naval vessels sail in formation during Exercise Golden Dragon 2025 near Port Sihanoukville in Cambodia on May 26, 2025. Chinese and Cambodian naval vessels sail in formation during Exercise Golden Dragon 2025 near Port Sihanoukville in Cambodia on May 26, 2025. Wang Jianwei/Chinese military The center, which is China's second publicly acknowledged overseas base, enables the East Asian power to project and sustain its military presence in the South China Sea, where its territorial claims cover most of the waters and overlap with those of neighboring countries. What To Know In a video released on X (formerly Twitter) on Wednesday, the Chinese navy announced that a "combined joint field training exercise" was conducted at sea and in the air near Port Sihanoukville in Southwestern Cambodia, as part of Exercise Golden Dragon 2025, on Monday local time. Chinese and Cambodian naval vessels were seen sailing in formation, the footage shows, while military personnel boarded a ship, subdued suspected hijackers, and rescued hostages. A Chinese Type 056A corvette, CNS Panzhihua, fired its gun at sea targets during the drill. On May 26 (local time), China and Camboida conducted combined joint field training exercise (FTX) at sea and in the air near Port Sihanoukville, Cambodia, as part of Exercise'Golden Dragon-2025', enhancing both sides' capabilities in jointly maintaining maritime security. — ChinaNavy (@China_Navy) May 28, 2025 Zhang Xiaogang, spokesperson for the Chinese Defense Ministry, stated on Thursday that the seventh iteration of the Exercise Golden Dragon series, which commenced on May 14 and concluded on Wednesday, focused on counterterrorism and humanitarian assistance operations. The exercise marked the first time the recently inaugurated joint center at Ream naval base was used to support drills at sea, the Chinese spokesperson said, claiming that the war game enhanced the two militaries' "command coordination and emergency response capabilities." Meanwhile, the Cambodian Defense Ministry stated that the joint exercise achieved "excellent results," noting that the two militaries overcame obstacles and difficulties and are now ready to contribute to maintaining peace and security in the region and worldwide. What People Are Saying Zhang Xiaogang, spokesperson for the Chinese Defense Ministry, said on Thursday: "China and Cambodia are iron-clad friends with rock-solid relations. The Chinese and Cambodian militaries will work in concert to act on the important consensus between leaders of the two countries." Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet said on April 12: "I highly appreciate China, which is an important partner supporting Cambodia's development in all sectors in all circumstances and without complicated conditions." What Happens Next It remains unclear whether China will conduct further military exercises in Cambodia as tensions in the South China Sea remain high, with the United States having deployed an aircraft carrier to the region.
Miami Herald
13-05-2025
- Politics
- Miami Herald
China Stages War Games at New Overseas Military Base
China has deployed its forces, including a landing ship to support amphibious warfare, to its new overseas base in Cambodia for a military exercise near the contested South China Sea. China, which is expanding its military reach and presence globally, inaugurated its second publicly acknowledged overseas base last month. The joint logistics and training center, located at Ream Naval Base in southwestern Cambodia, is jointly maintained by both sides. Cambodia has a coastline along the Gulf of Thailand, which connects to the South China Sea to the southeast. Beijing's sovereignty claims in the region—based on what it calls historic rights—cover most of the waters and overlap with those of neighboring countries. The Chinese Defense Ministry announced that Exercise Golden Dragon 2025 is scheduled to take place in Cambodia from mid- to late May, featuring counter-terrorism operations, as well as humanitarian assistance and disaster relief activities on land, at sea, and in the air. This marked the first bilateral exercise supported by the joint logistics and training center. Participating units from China arrived at Ream Naval Base on Monday, the Chinese military said, including the Type 071 amphibious landing platform dock vessel, CNS Changbaishan. The Type 071 amphibious warship is capable of carrying 800 marines and around 20 amphibious vehicles, in addition to two helicopters, according to the specialist outlet Naval News. Photos released by the Chinese military show that two smaller Chinese warships were also docked at a newly constructed pier at Ream Naval Base. Australia-based naval analyst Alex Luck identified them as Type 056A corvettes, which had been deployed there for some time. In the Pentagon's report on Chinese military power, released before the opening of the joint China-Cambodia facility, a pair of Chinese corvettes were docked at Ream Naval Base in December 2023, indicating that China could maintain what it called a persistent role on site. In the report, the Pentagon stated that China has adopted a global counter-terrorism strategy to prevent terrorist attacks against its citizens and economic interests abroad—such as the Belt and Road Initiative, a global infrastructure program that expands China's influence. Cambodia is a key investment destination under the Belt and Road Initiative, with Chinese funding used to develop the country's highways and ports, Japan-based Nikkei Asia reported. Senior Colonel Zhang Xiaogang, spokesperson for the Chinese Defense Ministry, said: "[Exercise Golden Dragon 2025] will facilitate practical cooperation between the two sides and contribute to the building of a China-Cambodia all-weather community with a shared future for the new era." The Pentagon's Chinese military power report read: "The [People's Republic of China] is seeking to expand its overseas logistics and basing infrastructure to allow the [People's Liberation Army] to project and sustain military power at greater distances." It remains to be seen whether China will expand the scope of joint exercises at the newly built facility in Cambodia and conduct patrols in the South China Sea from that location. Related Articles China's State Media Claims Victory After US Trade TalksHIMARS Unleashed in Taiwan as China Watches OnChina Accuses US of 'Smearing and Shifting Blame' on FentanylTrump Slashes 'De Minimis' Tariff on China for Low Value Packages 2025 NEWSWEEK DIGITAL LLC.
Newsweek
13-05-2025
- Politics
- Newsweek
China Stages War Games at New Overseas Military Base
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. China has deployed its forces, including a landing ship to support amphibious warfare, to its new overseas base in Cambodia for a military exercise near the contested South China Sea. Why It Matters China, which is expanding its military reach and presence globally, inaugurated its second publicly acknowledged overseas base last month. The joint logistics and training center, located at Ream Naval Base in southwestern Cambodia, is jointly maintained by both sides. Cambodia has a coastline along the Gulf of Thailand, which connects to the South China Sea to the southeast. Beijing's sovereignty claims in the region—based on what it calls historic rights—cover most of the waters and overlap with those of neighboring countries. What To Know The Chinese Defense Ministry announced that Exercise Golden Dragon 2025 is scheduled to take place in Cambodia from mid- to late May, featuring counter-terrorism operations, as well as humanitarian assistance and disaster relief activities on land, at sea, and in the air. This marked the first bilateral exercise supported by the joint logistics and training center. Participating units from China arrived at Ream Naval Base on Monday, the Chinese military said, including the Type 071 amphibious landing platform dock vessel, CNS Changbaishan. The Type 071 amphibious warship is capable of carrying 800 marines and around 20 amphibious vehicles, in addition to two helicopters, according to the specialist outlet Naval News. Photos released by the Chinese military show that two smaller Chinese warships were also docked at a newly constructed pier at Ream Naval Base. Australia-based naval analyst Alex Luck identified them as Type 056A corvettes, which had been deployed there for some time. The Chinese Type 071 amphibious landing platform dock vessel CNS Changbaishan, left, arrives at Ream Naval Base in Cambodia on May 12, 2025. The Chinese Type 071 amphibious landing platform dock vessel CNS Changbaishan, left, arrives at Ream Naval Base in Cambodia on May 12, 2025. Chinese military In the Pentagon's report on Chinese military power, released before the opening of the joint China-Cambodia facility, a pair of Chinese corvettes were docked at Ream Naval Base in December 2023, indicating that China could maintain what it called a persistent role on site. In the report, the Pentagon stated that China has adopted a global counter-terrorism strategy to prevent terrorist attacks against its citizens and economic interests abroad—such as the Belt and Road Initiative, a global infrastructure program that expands China's influence. Cambodia is a key investment destination under the Belt and Road Initiative, with Chinese funding used to develop the country's highways and ports, Japan-based Nikkei Asia reported. What People Are Saying Senior Colonel Zhang Xiaogang, spokesperson for the Chinese Defense Ministry, said: "[Exercise Golden Dragon 2025] will facilitate practical cooperation between the two sides and contribute to the building of a China-Cambodia all-weather community with a shared future for the new era." The Pentagon's Chinese military power report read: "The [People's Republic of China] is seeking to expand its overseas logistics and basing infrastructure to allow the [People's Liberation Army] to project and sustain military power at greater distances." What Happens Next It remains to be seen whether China will expand the scope of joint exercises at the newly built facility in Cambodia and conduct patrols in the South China Sea from that location.
