The Chinese Defense Ministry on Monday announced that China and Thailand will conduct a joint air force exercise, Falcon Strike-2025, scheduled for mid-to-late September. The drills will be hosted by Thailand.
Beijing said it will deploy several types of aircraft, ground-based air defense systems, and other units for the exercise. The announcement comes against the backdrop of rising regional tensions, with China over the weekend carrying out what it termed “routine” patrols in the South China Sea. The move followed the passage of American and British warships through the Taiwan Strait.
The Falcon Strike series, which has been held intermittently since 2015, underscores China’s growing military ties with Thailand, a key Southeast Asian partner.
