Hundreds of soldiers from the Chinese army participated in wargames in Southeast Asia during the first two weeks of July. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The People\u2019s Liberation Army (PLA) conducted joint exercises with the Lao People\u2019s Army from July 5 to 18. The drills, known as Friendship Shield 2024, involved around 900 Laotian and 300 Chinese military personnel. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Pictures posted online<\/a> show that Chinese soldiers were transported into Laos on a recently constructed railway<\/a>, financed by Beijing\u2019s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) loans. The railway was also used to bring military hardware into Laos.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The PLA issued a press release<\/a> explaining that the exercises involved live-fire shooting with various weapons, including heavy machine guns, sniper rifles, and grenade launchers. Photos show Laotian soldiers being trained in the use of Chinese weapons, including the new QBZ-191 assault rifle.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The PLA also said that its engineers operated drones in Laos, with an unnamed Chinese military expert\u00a0telling the state-owned Global Times<\/a> that \u201cChina is ramping up exploration and application of drones and robots, as well as their counters.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Lt. Col. Santi Chanthalangsone, the head of Laos\u2019 military training, welcomed the visitors. He said that \u201cthe Chinese may possess weaponry and expertise that could be beneficial to us. This exercise will fortify our military bonds and aid in the structuring and modernization of our armed forces.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n The joint exercises between China and Laos followed a similar operation involving the PLA and the military in Cambodia. Such events serve as a reminder of China\u2019s intention to coordinate with armies in the Southeast Asian region. The PLA uses the drills to train troops in the use of a range of weapons in a variety of terrains.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Although a small nation, Laos \u2013 a one-party state run by the Lao People\u2019s Revolutionary Party (LPRP) \u2013 holds a strategic position along the Mekong River, a crucial trade link between Southeast Asia and China. Laos also has a long history of being caught up in conflict. During the Vietnam war, it became the most bombed nation in history. More than a tonne of ordnance fell for every person living there at the time. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Resentment against the United States, as well as a long-established communist government under the LPRP, has strongly influenced relations between Laos and other countries. It is friendly with Vietnam and Cambodia. A North Korean delegation led by a senior official visited Laos in March 2024.<\/a> Kim Jong Un sent what was described as a \u201cverbal letter\u201d calling for \u201ccomradely and strategic cooperation\u201d with Laos to \u201chasten the victory of the socialist cause.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Despite a rise in tourism and improved transport links with China, Laos remains the least developed country in Asia. The World Bank has noted that Laos\u2019 perilous financial situation has left it increasingly dependent on China. In 2020, Laos ceded majority control of its electric grid to a Chinese company \u2013 a move it was obliged to make in order to avoid defaulting on a loan it had accepted from China. <\/p>\n\n\n\n