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China to join Cobra Gold military drills (held in Thailand every year with US) for first time

somsak

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[1] Chinese army will join Cobra Gold exercise for the first time in February - Thai PBS English News
[2] http://www.posttoday.com/%E0%B8%81%E0%B8%B2%E0%B8%A3%E0%B9%80%E0%B8%A1%E0%B8%B7%E0%B8%AD%E0%B8%87/344783/%E0%B8%81%E0%B8%AD%E0%B8%87%E0%B8%97%E0%B8%B1%E0%B8%9E%E0%B9%80%E0%B8%9C%E0%B8%A2%E0%B8%88%E0%B8%B5%E0%B8%99%E0%B8%A3%E0%B9%88%E0%B8%A7%E0%B8%A1%E0%B8%9D%E0%B8%B6%E0%B8%81%E0%B8%84%E0%B8%AD%E0%B8%9A%E0%B8%A3%E0%B9%89%E0%B8%B2%E0%B9%82%E0%B8%81%E0%B8%A5%E0%B8%94%E0%B9%8C%E0%B9%80%E0%B8%9B%E0%B9%87%E0%B8%99%E0%B8%9B%E0%B8%B5%E0%B9%81%E0%B8%A3%E0%B8%81
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The Chinese People’s Army will join the Cobra Gold military exercise in Thailand for the first time starting on February 9 but will focus on disaster relief and people’s support exercises.
An informed source in the Thai Supreme Command said Sunday that the Chinese participation in Cobra Gold this year was similar in nature with the non-military exercises of troops from South Korea and Japan.

The same source disclosed that, in fact, Thai and Chinese troops had staged several joint military exercises for instances the joint exercises between special forces, marine and air forces of the two countries. However, the source said that the Thai military wanted the joint exercises to proceed gradually because there is still a language barrier which is yet to be tackled.

Prior to the start of the Cobra Gold exercise, Chinese defence minister will visit Thailand on February 6-8 during which he will discuss with Thai Defence Minister Prawit Wongsuwan on joint cooperation in the development of armaments such as multi-tube missiles.

This year’s Cobra Gold exercise will be low key and focus on command post exercises rather than field exercises. About 10,000 troops from 20 nations will join this year’s exercise, including 5,000 from the US, 4,000 troops from Thailand. The exercise will be conducted in Lop Buri, Nakhon Nayok, Chon Buri, Rayong and Chanthaburi provinces and it will last about two weeks.
 
Continuing the friendship & rapport with Thailand, a very important friend is crucial. Here's looking to more cooperation between our countries. :cheers:
 
According to Thai news, China will only train on Disaster Relief part of the war game, and not the war game itself, just like Japan and SK priori.
 
According to Thai news, China will only train on Disaster Relief part of the war game, and not the war game itself, just like Japan and SK priori.

I think it would be the case, shoulder-to-shoulder training between PLA and US on tropical warfare is unimaginable, at least now.
 
Thai-China ties destined for new level of strategic significance
Kavi Chongkittavorn
November 3, 2014 1:00 am

Left unattended by the major Western powers following the May 22 coup, Thailand and China have quickly strengthened their relations - especially in longstanding defence cooperation.

During the brief visit to China last week of Deputy Prime Minister and Defense Minister General Pravit Wongsuwan, Thailand and China agreed to conduct a joint air force exercise for the first time within a year - and all three armed forces will now participate in full-scale bilateral military drills.

The new collaboration can pose a direct challenge to the all-weather US-dominated security exercises held regularly with Thailand over the past five decades. A new pattern China-led security network, which anchors on Thai-China friendship, could loop in neighbouring countries such as Laos, Cambodia and possibly Myanmar in the near future.

Two years ago, China successfully created an international force, the first of its kind, to provide security protection along the Mekong River after 13 Chinese passengers were killed inside a boat sailing inside Thai territory. China's collaboration with the security units from Myanmar, Laos and Thailand is still a work in progress due to different practices and norms.

Although Thailand and China declared their "comprehensive strategic partnership" in 2012, their joint military drills are still at a nascent stage. With the participation of air forces, the prospect of Thai-China defence cooperation would increase and serve as a pivot for China's effort to build up new Asian security architecture as advocated by President Xi Jingping. In May, he called for the establishment of Asian security by Asian countries that can solve Asian problems.

Since the start of the Sino-Thai Defense and Security Consultation in 2001, defence cooperation has gradually expanded in scope and areas of cooperation, including joint development and technological transfers. The most notable were a series of Thai-China special force training exercises with the code name "Strike" which ran from 2007-2013. The Thai and Chinese navies also held two anti-terrorism exercises under the code name "Blue Strike." The first in 2010 was staged in Chon Buri, Rayong and Chanthaburi. However, it was the second in 2012, conducted inside Guangdong province in the waters off Shanwei in Zhanjiang, that rattled US strategists due to the large number of marine corps involved, totalling 500, with highly classified tactics and techniques used during training. Both sides still needed to reconcile different military doctrines and improve their interoperability.

During Pravit's visit, Thailand and China agreed to expand the four-year joint development of multiple rocket launchers known as DTI-1G, which ends in 2015. Other new cooperation including space, information and communications technology and new weapons procurement to be spelled out during next week's visit of Prime Minister General Prayut Chan-o-cha. At the working level, there were discussions on how to make the Thai-China ties more strategic with many proposals including the two plus two (foreign affairs and defence) ministerial meeting.

To outsiders, the increased intimacy between Thailand and China in the post-coup was due to two major reasons. First, the Chinese leader's understanding and sympathy towards Thailand's political vulnerability and his willingness to adopt "business as usual" with Thailand. Second, the country's lack of a viable option to jump start ties with Western countries, which condemned the coup, continues to favour its ties with China.

Truth be told, after the establishment of diplomatic relations in 1975, regional crisis such as the Cambodian conflict (1979-1992) and the Asian financial crisis (1997), as well as Thai political quagmire, have played important roles in boosting Thai-China relations. In the truest sense of the word, Beijing has proved it has been a virtual ally of Thailand.

However, from within, there has been some soul-searching among top military leaders on any move to approach the two prominent powers - China and the US - that would shape the future strategic landscape of Asia and Asean. The alliance with the US since 1954, which has been the country's biggest security asset, no longer holds the same value as in the past. After the coup, Thailand has become more recalcitrant towards the US. In the past, it has responded to US strategic requirements. However, from the Thai point of view, the lack of understanding and "hurtful" American responses, especially those coming from their diplomats stationed here, towards the internal situation was a barometer of Washington's disinterest and insensitivity.

Whether by default or design, China's pro-active diplomacy and security overtures over medium and long-term will be a potent force to weaken the US-led alliance system in the region, directly impacting the Thai-US military pact. By mid-November, all top Thai military coup leaders would have visited China - while the US continues to ban high-level contacts for both military and civilians. It will remain until a new election. However, the Asia-Pacific region's largest Thai-US military exercise, Cobra Gold, will proceed as planned with a scaling down of military personnel.

At the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation Leaders Meeting, Prayut has scheduled a bilateral meeting with President Xi Jinping. What emerged from the meeting would be indicators of future Thai-China pathways - essentially utilising Thailand as a springboard for the integration of Southwest China to mainland Southeast Asia through physical connectivity. Xi wants to showcase the Sino-Thai ties that are "equitable", "mutually beneficial" and "win-win" to win over other Asean countries.

For decades, China has been eager to construct physical links, both road and railway, with its underdeveloped southwest region to mainland Southeast Asia. River and road links are now common transportation linking the two regions. For the immediate future, China wants to build railways connecting Yunnan through Vientiane and then across the Mekong River to Nong Khai, leading to Nakhon Ratchasima and then to Laem Chabang deep sea port in eastern Thailand. Other rail-construction projects were discussed in past years, but so far there has been no concrete agreement on construction as more countries would have to get involved.

In retrospect, political turmoil and the rice-related scandal during the Yingluck administration seriously affected China's long-standing interest on infrastructure projects amid Thailand's growing unpredictability. Under the Thaksinadministration, Beijing was confident the railway projects including other infrastructure plans would go through, mainly due to Thaksin's political longevity. That proved not to be the case. After the coup in 2006, China has painstakingly built up ties with subsequent Thai governments focusing once again on infrastructure projects.

Given the unique circumstance Thailand is in today and China's enthusiasm for infrastructural deals and trade-offs, the Thai-China ties are destined to move to a new lev
 
Thailand boosts military ties with China amid U.S. spat
By Amy Sawitta Lefevre
BANGKOK Fri Feb 6, 2015 2:39am EST

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China's Defence Minister Chang Wanquan, accompanied by Thailand's Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister Prawit Wongsuwan (L), reviews a guard of honour during his visit to Thailand, at the Defence Ministry in Bangkok February 6, 2015.
Credit: Reuters/Chaiwat Subprasom


(Reuters) - China and Thailand agreed on Friday to boost military ties over the next five years, from increasing intelligence sharing to fighting transnational crime, as the ruling junta seeks to counterbalance the country's alliance with Washington.

The agreement came during a two-day visit by China's Defence Minister Chang Wanquan to Bangkok, and as Thailand's military government looks to cultivate Beijing's support amid Western unease over a delayed return to democracy.

"China has agreed to help Thailand increase protection of its own country and advise on technology to increase Thailand's national security," Thai Defence Minister General Prawit Wongsuwan told reporters.

"China will not intervene in Thailand's politics but will give political support and help maintain relationships at all levels. This is China's policy."

Under the junta, Thailand has stepped up engagement with China at a time when Beijing increases its influence in Southeast Asia with a raft of loans and aid for infrastructure.

At the same time, Washington has sought to show its renewed commitment to a strategic "pivot" toward Asia by boosting military ties and equipment sales across the region.

Prawit said Thailand and China agreed to increase joint military exercises, but did not give further details.

"We agreed to increase joint military exercises between Thailand's air force and China's air force and to increase overall military cooperation over the next three to five years," he said.

Thailand's army took control last May saying it needed to restore order after months of political unrest including street protests in Bangkok that killed nearly 30 people. The United States, a long-time ally of Thailand, expressed dismay at the coup and froze $4.7 million of security-related assistance and canceled some security cooperation.

U.S.-Thai relations deteriorated further last month when Bangkok accused Washington of meddling in its political affairs over the remarks by a visiting U.S. envoy who criticized the junta.

The junta has said it will hold onto power for at least another year, with a general election planned for early 2016.

Despite the tensions, the U.S. will hold its annual Cobra Gold combined military exercise with Thailand next week. The drill, however, has been scaled down in scope to humanitarian assistance and disaster relief.

The drill, the Asia-Pacific's largest annual multinational military exercise, also involves China.

(Additional reporting by Pracha Hariraksapitak; Editing by Jeremy Laurence)
 
Congrat to the good relation between China and Thailand.
 
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