PHNOM PENH – A Chinese amphibious warship arrived at Cambodia’s Ream Naval Base on May 12 ahead of a joint military exercise set to begin later in the week.

The Changbai Shan, a Type 071 amphibious landing ship, is leading China’s mission for the annual Golden Dragon exercises. The vessel is commanded by Rear Admiral Lyu Guankun, assistant chief of the joint staff at the Chinese military’s Southern Theater Command.

The Chinese delegation was received at the newly inaugurated naval base by senior Cambodian military officials, including Major General Pen Sokrethvithyea, director of the Royal Cambodian Armed Forces’ training directorate and head of Cambodia’s drill coordination team.

The Changbai Shan is a 210-meter-long amphibious transport dock with a displacement of 25,000 tonnes.

More than 2,000 troops from both countries will participate in the Golden Dragon exercises, which will run from May 14 to 28 and feature advanced weaponry and military equipment.

Cambodia is deploying 1,331 personnel, while China is sending 845 troops along with a wide range of military hardware, including artillery, mortar vehicles, rubber-wheeled armored vehicles, C5 command vehicles, robot dogs, helicopters, warships, surveillance and combat drones, light and small arms, as well as medical and explosive ordnance equipment.

Cambodian forces will also mobilize tanks, artillery, ambulances, helicopters, and naval vessels.

The exercises will be held at the Gendarmerie Training Center in Kampong Chhnang province, with additional sea and air training in Preah Sihanouk province.

Cambodia and China launched their first joint military drill in 2016. The exercises were suspended for three years due to the COVID-19 pandemic and resumed in 2023.