By Huang Yaohui
A Cambodian army soldier looks at Chinese military vehicles displayed before a handover ceremony at a military airbase in Phnom Penh, Cambodia.
PHNOM PENH, Mar. 8 (ChinaMil) -- About 200 Chinese military members arrived in Cambodia on Thursday to participate in the 15-day joint exercise “Golden Dragon 2019” held by the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) and the Royal Cambodian Armed Forces (RCAF).
China and Cambodia have agreed to hold a joint exercise on the theme of “joint anti-terrorism training and humanitarian relief” in Kampot Province of Cambodia from March 10 to 27, aiming to strengthen the traditional friendship and improve the joint anti-terrorist capacities between the two armed forces. The exercise consists of three parts, specialized mixed training, humanitarian rescue mission, and comprehensive drill. The exercise involves use of anti-terrorism equipment, live-fire shooting of light weapons, airborne penetration, room clearing action, as well as searching, tracing and clearing operations.
The exercise will involve more than 700 troops from both sides. The Chinese participants mainly come from the PLA 74th Group Army. The participants will exercise with over 40 pieces of training equipment including helicopters, infantry fighting vehicles (IFVs) and firepower assault vehicles. It is reported that the maritime transport echelon and helicopter echelon have arrived in Cambodia before March 8.
According to Lieutenant Colonel Liu Gui, captain of the Chinese anti-terrorist team, the Chinese participating troops had conducted a three-week intensive training prior to the joint exercise at a training base in Qingyuan, southern China’s Guangdong Province. The intensive training covered live-fire shooting, parachute and fast-roping landing, anti-terrorism operations command and other subjects.
It is reported that this is the third time for China and Cambodia to hold “Golden Dragon” series of exercises. It is an important exchange activity between the two armed forces in 2019 and is of great significance for enhancing exchanges and cooperation between the two countries and militaries.