SIHANOUKVILLE: A Chinese People's Liberation Army ship carrying equipment needed for the 2023 'Golden Dragon Maneuver' military exercise, planned between Cambodian and Chinese troops, arrived at the port of Sihanoukville on Sunday, 19 March 2023. The equipment is scheduled to be transported to the military training ground in Phnom Chum Reak Rey, Kampong Chhnang Province on Monday.

The arrival of the Chinese People's Liberation Army cargo ship carrying the necessary equipment for the Golden Dragon Maneuver came after Cambodia and China agreed to hold a joint-military exercise at the Royal Cambodian Gendarmerie Training Center in Kampong Chhnang province.

The resumption of joint-military exercises between Cambodia and China are expected to enhance cross country military communication, solidarity, friendship, training and knowledge, as well as allow for the exchange of experiences.

The Cambodian and Chinese armies will hold large-scale joint military exercises from 23 March to 5 April, which will also help to strengthen future security provisions for major events and improve disaster-response mechanisms.

It should be noted that the Golden Dragon Maneuver joint-military exercise has been conducted between Cambodia and China since 2016. The exercise has so far been conducted four times: in 2016, 2018, 2019 and 2020.

Plans to conduct the military exercise were suspended in 2017 due to an increased crackdown on drugs and the commune council elections in Cambodia, while the annual exercise was also put on hold in 2021 and 2022 due to the Covid-19 pandemic.