This year’s joint drill, Aman Youyi-2025, is the sixth time the exercise has been held, with the first taking place in 2014.
According to the PLA’s Southern Theatre Command, more than 1,000 personnel will take part, with equipment including unmanned systems, naval vessels and helicopters.
The exercise near Malaysian waters will focus on “humanitarian assistance”, “disaster relief” and “maritime security”, the PLA said, adding that other Southeast Asian countries would be invited to observe.
“[The joint exercise] aims to deepen practical cooperation between the Chinese and Southeast Asian militaries and enhance their capacity to jointly address non-traditional security threats and safeguard regional peace and stability,” China’s defence ministry said.
It did not give further details of the weapons or ships involved. The PLA forces taking part set out for Malaysia from ports in Zhanjiang in Guangdong province, Sanya in Hainan province and Hong Kong on Wednesday.
