China, Malaysia plan joint military exercise focusing on disaster relief, maritime security

China and Malaysia are set to conduct the sixth iteration of their joint military exercise, "Peace and Friendship 2025," in mid-to-late October 2025, focusing on humanitarian assistance, disaster relief, and maritime security in Malaysia and adjacent waters. The exercise will involve over 1,000 personnel, including multi-service forces from both countries, with China deploying assets such as ships, helicopters, and unmanned systems. Other ASEAN member states have been invited to observe the drills, which aim to deepen defense cooperation and enhance the ability of regional militaries to tackle non-traditional security threats. These routine exercises occur amid ongoing regional tensions over contested areas in the South China Sea, where China claims sovereignty over most of the waterway despite overlapping claims by several Southeast Asian nations. The joint drills underscore China's broader ambition to strengthen defense collaboration with Southeast Asian countries and maintain regional peace and stability. Malaysia is also preparing to host significant ASEAN meetings, including a summit and defense ministers' gathering, where developments related to the South China Sea are expected to be discussed.