Golden Dragon is a bilateral military exercise between China and Cambodia, started in 2016. It aims to improve defence cooperation, strategic coordination, and disaster-response capabilities.
Golden Dragon 2025
- The 2025 edition is the biggest version to date, involving air, naval, and ground forces.
- Held at Ream Naval Base, Sihanoukville (Southern Cambodia), which recently welcomed Chinese warships.
- The base’s development marks China’s rising naval presence in the Gulf of Thailand.
Key Features
- The official theme focuses on counter-terrorism operations and humanitarian assistance.
- Demonstrates China’s growing defence technology, including: Reconnaissance and combat drones, Surgical robots for battlefield use, Robot dogs, showing interest in AI-based warfare systems.
Geopolitical Concerns
- The drills coincide with the Balikatan 2025 exercise, led by the U.S., Philippines, Australia, and Japan.
- Raises alarms about China gaining access to dual-use military ports in Cambodia, similar to:n Sri Lanka’s Hambantota Port, Pakistan’s Gwadar Port.
Strategic Significance
- Shows China’s ability to expand military influence beyond its borders.
- Fits into the “String of Pearls” strategy, where China develops a network of ports across the Indian Ocean to protect its interests.
Conclusion
Golden Dragon 2025 reflects China’s growing military ambitions in Southeast Asia and highlights the ongoing power contest in the Indo-Pacific region.
