Golden Dragon 2025: Cambodia–China Exercise

Current Context: Cambodia and China have launched their largest joint military exercise, Golden Dragon 2025, involving land, sea, and air operations at Cambodia’s Ream Naval Base.

About Golden Dragon 2025:

• Inception: Annual bilateral drills since 2016 to deepen military cooperation and regional security.
• Theme: Counter-terrorism operations and humanitarian relief, underlining peace-building objectives.
• Venue: Ream Naval Base, Sihanoukville, Cambodia—recently expanded with Chinese naval docking facilities.
• Key Capabilities Demonstrated:
  • Reconnaissance and attack unmanned aerial vehicles.
  • Robotic medical support systems.
  • Quadrupedal robotic platforms (“robot dogs”) for security operations.
• Regional Significance: Coincides with U.S.-Philippines “Balikatan” exercises, reflecting strategic competition in Southeast Asia.
• Strategic Implications: Highlights China’s expanding naval access as part of its “String of Pearls” network of dual-use ports.