China training with Thailand Marines

Emblem of the Royal Thai MarinesImage via Wikipedia
Washington Times:

China is expanding its military reach by sending, for the first time, a marine unit of the People's Liberation Army (PLA) to train with another country in an upcoming exercise with Thailand's armed forces.

The U.S. and other nations will be eyeing the China-Thailand exercise, which began Tuesday and is scheduled to run through Nov. 14 in and around the Sattahip Naval Base near Bangkok on the Gulf of Thailand, as Beijing seeks to secure its access south to strategic sea lanes amid a spate of recent disputes between China and its Asian neighbors.

The Blue Assault-2010 exercise is the first time China's marines are training with another country's forces, according to the Chinese National Defense Ministry, though other PLA units have trained with foreigners.

"The joint drill will focus on anti-terrorism. It will also aim at helping marines from Thailand and China learn from each other, enhance mutual understanding, step up friendly exchange and cooperation," China's state-run Xinhua News Agency reported.

The drill will involve more than 100 marines from each country — much smaller than America's 29 annual Cobra Gold military drills that, among several sites, includes Sattahip base, where the Royal Thai Marine Corps has headquarters at Camp Samae San. During Cobra Gold, U.S. and Thai marines, with naval and air support, routinely assault a beach in southern Thailand, creating one of the most vital joint training exercises for Thai forces.

...
In my brief observation of the Thai military since I have been here, they appear to be a rather relaxed military operation. Friday while doing a boat tour of the river and some canals, I went by he main naval base and saw a lone sailor "on guard" near the shoreline. He looked both board and inattentive with his rifle leaning against his leg. Most of the navy vessels I saw look like troop transport boats with few if any armament.

I really have enjoyed my time in Thailand.  The people are friendly and courteous.  I have been greatly helped by my daughter who speaks fluent Thai.  It is the fifth or six language she has mastered.  I have no idea where she got that ability since I am still working on mastering English.  Her small children are already bi-lingual.

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