China to join exercises with rival sea claimants

By: 8 years ago

CHINA said it will send a warship and special forces for a multinational exercise next month that is also expected to include troops from the Philippines and other rival claimants in the South China Sea.

The May 2-12 maritime security and counter-terrorism exercise will feature the militaries of the 10 countries of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, along with those of the US, India and six other dialogue partners. It will be held in Singapore and Brunei and in nearby waters of the South China Sea.

Chinese Defense Ministry spokesman Col. Wu Qian said yesterday that China would send the missile destroyer Lanzhou, staff officers and a dozen special forces troops.