PHNOM PENH — The Royal Cambodian Armed Forces (RCAF) and China’s People’s Liberation Army (PLA) are to launch larger 2019 Golden Dragon military exercises in order to strengthen and extend military relations and cooperation, the defense minister has said. Defense Minister Tea Banh told The Post: “We are holding these exercises in order to improve the army’s capability. Cambodia cancelled some important military exercises with the US last year. This year, the Cambodian army and the PLA held the first Golden Dragon military exercises, which focused on counter-terrorism, rescue techniques and live-fire training. Two-hundred and eighty Cambodian soldiers and 190 Chinese soldiers took part in this year’s exercises, in which sophisticated modern weapons such as Z10 helicopters, equipped with rockets, and armored vehicles were used.

Source: Philippine Daily Inquirer September 27, 2018 10:41 UTC