The annual drill was first held in 2015. Last year, China sent its JH-7A fighter bomber, Shaanxi KJ-500 early warning and control aircraft, and six Chengdu J-10 C/S fighters – the most advanced line-up in the exercise’s history.
“The joint training adheres to the principles of mutual benefit and the standard of real and practical combat training, which will further improve the training level of the Chinese and Thai air forces,” said Chen Jun, commander of the Chinese troops, according to Xinhua.
Boripat Ratchaneepun, an officer with the Thai air force’s directorate of operations, added that the drill would improve “mutual trust and friendship” between the Thai and Chinese air forces.
China held its first naval drills with ally Cambodia in March and conducted exercises with Singapore and Laos in May. It also took part in Indonesian military exercises off the coast of Makassar in South Sulawesi, along with the United States and other forces, in June.
The US, meanwhile, conducted several drills in the first half of the year with regional allies including Japan, South Korea, India, Indonesia and the Philippines.
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