The exercises are being held with countries with whom China has territorial disputes.
China has organized joint military exercises named "Aman Yui-2023" in Guangdong Province, involving five Southeast Asian countries, as reported by Sarbaz.kz citing the South China Morning Post.
The Chinese Ministry of Defense emphasized that the maneuvers aim to further deepen "mutual trust and pragmatic cooperation," as reported by Chinese state media.
The exercises commenced on November 13 and lasted for 10 days. They involved 3,000 soldiers from China, Cambodia, Laos, Malaysia, Thailand, and Vietnam.
The "Aman Yui-2023" exercises particularly focused on counterterrorism and anti-piracy activities, steering clear of the sensitive topic of territorial disputes. Among the participating states, Vietnam and Malaysia have territorial disputes with China.
Deputy Chief of the Vietnamese Navy Staff, Rear Admiral Nguyen Viet Khanh, stated at the opening ceremony in Zhangjiang, Guangdong Province, that the exercises are a means to bolster military cooperation on a range of issues.
Many experts highlight that Southeast Asian countries are ready to balance their relationships with both China and the US, given their strategic positions of interest to the superpowers. Their participation in the exercises does not indicate a shift towards China, but it signifies their intention to develop technological expertise and enhance regional cooperation in combating piracy.
Additionally, these exercises enable China to showcase products from its defense industry. For instance, during the exercises, a pistol-shaped anti-drone cannon was demonstrated for the first time, capable of tracking and deactivating drones.
