China and Thailand have launched an 11-day joint military exercise focused on counterterrorism operations in Kunming, China. The drills, named “Strike-2024,” incorporate both manned and unmanned combat systems, including drones, to simulate modern warfare scenarios. Taking place 800 kilometres from the Thai border in the rugged terrain of southern China, the exercises will feature a range of complex operations, such as hostage rescue missions, special demolitions, helicopter deployments, and search-and-sweep operations, according to the People’s Liberation Army Daily.
The aim is to improve joint operational capabilities in complex situations, such as challenging mountain and jungle terrains, and to counter cross-border criminal activities and non-traditional security threats, thereby contributing positively to regional stability, according to the paper.
A video from the Chinese state broadcaster CCTV showed the Thai army, which typically uses US-supplied weapons, practising drills with various models of Chinese-made Type-95-1 assault rifles. Thai soldiers observed Chinese troops conducting combat drills and were given hands-on experience with light weapons, unmanned combat equipment, and reconnaissance devices used by the Chinese forces.
The exercise is the seventh in the “Strike” series between both the armed forces and is taking place as China enhances its defence ties to foster political trust with its Southeast Asian neighbours. A US Naval War College report indicates that Southeast Asia is the only region where the number of China’s joint military exercises has returned to pre-pandemic levels.
Recent military exercises in the region have included several notable drills. The China-Singapore “Exercise Cooperation-2024” took place near the city of Zhanjiang and concluded on September 5. In July, Laos and China conducted the “Friendship Shield-2024” exercise. In May, the China-Cambodia “Golden Dragon-2024” drill was staged. Additionally, in August, China and Thailand held the “Falcon Strike-2024” joint air force training exercise at the Udorn Royal Thai Air Force Base in Bangkok.
China has traditionally nurtured closer military ties with Cambodia and Laos. However, recent military exercises with Thailand—a longstanding ally of the United States—have garnered attention. Local media, citing a Chinese military analyst, reported that these exercises included rare combat elements considered “necessary for a small-scale war.”
From 2019 to 2023, China has emerged as Thailand’s largest arms supplier, providing 44 per cent of the country’s major weapon imports. This figure, more than double the amount supplied in the previous four-year period, according to data from the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute, underscores the growing influence of China in the region. However, Beijing’s efforts to expand its arms sales to other Southeast Asian nations have been significantly limited due to the strong influence and pressure from the United States.
Team BharatShakti
