BANGKOK: Asia and China kicked off a mutual air force workout on Sunday (Aug 14), the kingdom’s military said, the first such drills within years following a temporarily stop forced by COVID-19.
The particular “Falcon Strike” exercise comes after China’s largest army drills around Taiwan , which were carried out in retaliation to some visit there by United States House Speaker Nancy Pelosi.
Thai Air Main Marshall Prapas Sornchaidee said “Falcon Strike”, running from Aug 14 to Aug 25 in the northeast of the country, was meant to “strengthen relations and understanding” with China.
The visiting Chinese contingent will include fighter aircraft, bombers and airborne early-warning (AEW) planes, the defence ministry in Beijing said last week.
It added that the exercises will involve training for “air support, strikes on ground targets, and small- and considerable troop deployment”.
The Thai-Chinese surroundings force drills had been held regularly considering that 2015 until the outbreak hit.
Washington has expressed growing concern over China’s assertiveness in the Pacific cycles region, and last week launched the “Super Garuda Shield” workout in Indonesia using its allies.