The third annual “Golden Dragon” exercise was held from March 15 to March 31 with a combined force of 3,000 troops under the theme “counter-terrorism and humanitarianism” as ties between the two countries grow closer amid growing Western criticism of Cambodia’s human rights record. The drill in Cambodia’s Kampot province included training in the use of tanks, armored vehicles, spy devices, and demining equipment, Cambodia’s Ministry of Defense said in a statement.
“Now most countries are locked down due to the COVID-19 but Cambodia and China still demonstrated their commitment to conduct the military exercise,” the pro-government Khmer Times quoted Defense Minister Tea Banh as saying.
