China sends warships for massive drill with Cambodia

China and Cambodia deployed their ships near the Gulf of Thailand for the naval section of their biggest ever "Golden Dragon" military drills.

Two Chinese warships docked at a commercial port in Cambodia. On Thursday, China and Cambodia initiated a 15-day-long military drill involving 760 Chinese military personnel along with around 1,300 Cambodians and 11 Cambodian vessels.

The naval portion of the exercises is set to be held near the Gulf of Thailand next week. Golden Dragon exercises were first held in December 2016. This year's event is the second after a three-year hiatus over the COVID-19 pandemic, and the largest to date.