Prawit gives China-Asean drills the nod

Prawit gives China-Asean drills the nod

Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister Prawit Wongsuwon motions to Chinese Gen Xu Qiliang, a senior member of the Communist Party's Central Military Commission, during an official visit in April of last year. (Photo by Apichart Jinakul)
Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister Prawit Wongsuwon motions to Chinese Gen Xu Qiliang, a senior member of the Communist Party's Central Military Commission, during an official visit in April of last year. (Photo by Apichart Jinakul)

Deputy Prime Minister Prawit Wongsuwon says Thailand will participate in joint military exercises with China and all Southeast Asian nations if all countries in the region agree to it.

Gen Prawit said Monday that countries in Southeast Asia plan to discuss holding joint military exercises, but so far no meeting has been scheduled.

If other countries in the region agree to take part in the military drill, Thailand will also go ahead with it, he added.

The move follows China's call for joint military exercises with all Southeast Asian nations in an attempt to resolve longstanding disputes over the South China Sea.

The call was made last year and repeated in the Lao capital of Vientiane last week when Chinese Minister of National Defence Chang Wanquan met his counterparts from the 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations.

The military drills are meant to better fulfill the Code of Unplanned Encounters at Sea to avoid potential miscalculations in disputed areas.

All sides at the Vientiane meeting showed their interest in the drills but as yet China has not agreed to them.

More than 500 Chinese marines accompanied by their warships will join a large-scale exercise with the Thai navy later this month in a move seen as a counterbalance to the United States' influence in the region.

Also Monday, Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha confirmed that he will attend the 15th Asia Security Summit, or the Shangri-La Dialogue, which is scheduled to take place in Singapore between Friday and Sunday.

He said he will deliver the keynote address at the event which will be attended by delegations including Asia-Pacific defence ministers and high-ranking officials from more than 30 countries.

The dialogue is aimed at building confidence and fostering security cooperation.

The premier was speaking after he welcomed Teo Chee Hean, Singapore's deputy prime minister and coordinating minister for national security, at Government House Monday afternoon.

Mr Teo is on an official visit to Thailand until today to strengthen bilateral ties.

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