China will hold a rare joint military exercise with its landlocked neighbor Laos this month as Beijing seeks to strengthen security ties with regional allies to counter a growing US presence in Southeast Asia.
The Southern Theater Command, one of the five theater commands of the People’s Liberation Army, will send troops to Laos for the “Friendship Shield 2023” joint exercise, the Chinese Defense Ministry said in a brief statement on Friday.
China’s state television reported that the exercise, to be held from May 9 to 28, would simulate attacks on international armed criminal groups and involve more than 900 personnel, including more than 200 Chinese soldiers.