Cambodia, China Launch Largest Golden Dragon Joint Military Drills

Cambodia and China have launched their largest joint military exercise, Golden Dragon 2025, involving over 2,000 troops from the army, navy, and air force across land, sea, and air operations. The exercises, held at the Ream Naval Base and other locations, focus on joint counter-terrorism operations and humanitarian relief while featuring advanced military technology such as drones, surgical robots, robotic dogs, and the use of artificial intelligence. This year's drills reflect the deepening security cooperation between the two nations, with China’s growing influence marked by its support for the expansion of Cambodia's Ream Naval Base, which has prompted regional concerns about a possible Chinese strategic military presence. Despite these concerns, Cambodia maintains that the base is open to friendly navies under certain conditions, as evidenced by recent visits from Japanese, Vietnamese, and Chinese naval vessels. The exercises also demonstrate the broader geopolitical dynamics, with Cambodia signaling interest in resuming military drills with the United States amid increased diplomatic engagement. Overall, Golden Dragon 2025 underlines the strengthening China-Cambodia alliance and their commitment to enhancing military capabilities and regional stability.