SINGAPORE (The Straits Times/Asia News Network): Singapore Armed Forces and China’s People’s Liberation Army (PLA) are conducting a two-week bilateral army exercise from Sept 1, the first such exercise since 2019 due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
Exercise Cooperation, which is running for the fifth time since the first edition in 2009, involves soldiers from the Singapore Army’s 3rd Singapore Division and 1st Commando Battalion, as well as the PLA Southern Theater Command Army’s (STCA) 74th Army Group.
In a statement on Monday (Aug 28), the Ministry of Defence (Mindef) said the theme of the exercise is urban counter-terrorism operations.
Soldiers will engage in professional exchanges in support of a rescue scenario and take part in tactical training, such as rappelling, hand-to-hand combat and small-arms live firing.
Said Mindef: “These interactions allow both sides to strengthen professional ties, foster people-to-people bonds, as well as enhance mutual trust and understanding between both militaries.”
The ministry added that the exercise, which is part of the Singapore army’s efforts to enhance mutual cooperation with other countries, underscores the warm and friendly bilateral defence relations between Singapore and China.
“Besides bilateral and multilateral exercise, the two defence establishments also interact regularly through high-level exchanges, mutual visits, cross-attendance of courses, academic exchanges and port calls,” said Mindef.
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