Military of China, force comment.
Military of China, force comment.

interview with Thai media

Thai Defense Minister Su dry Punta Pitsuwan that tower has revealed that the Myanmar Government’s intention to participate in the Cobra Gold military exercises jointly organized by the United States and Thailand. Myanmar had been isolated for decades, whether there really might be involved in this military exercise led by the United States?

Myanmar by Thai Defense Minister to release this information. Recently, Thai Defense Minister Su dry Punta Pitsuwan that tower to visit Myanmar, including military and political high-level than the are and Myanmar President Wu Dengsheng, IDF commander in chief to vice general Minang, Defense Minister Lamine Lieutenant talks. During the talks, the Myanmar side expressed the hope that the Thai government in Myanmar to convey to the U.S. government, in its relations with the United States to maintain good posture, Myanmar intends to participate in the next year and Mattel co-organized the “Cobra Gold” military exercise.

In fact, this is not the Government of Myanmar for the first time issued wishing to participate in the military exercise information. Back in February of this year, the Thai army officials once revealed to the media, Myanmar intends to participate in the month at 2012 Cobra Gold multinational joint military exercises. This requirement even got the approval of U.S. President Barack Obama, but was rejected by the U.S. Congress. Myanmar subsequently sent observers to observe this year’s Cobra Gold.

“Cobra Gold” is dominated by the United States, co-sponsored by the United States and Thailand in Southeast Asia’s largest multinational joint military exercises. The first session was held in 1982 and every year since then to hold a place in Thailand. At first, only the U.S. and Thai armed forces to participate in, and then gradually expand the range, the Philippines, Singapore, Indonesia, Malaysia, Vietnam and other Southeast Asian countries have also joined. Japanese Self-Defense Force and South Korean military is also a military exercise regulars. Military exercises held in February this year, the largest since the start-up of the “Cobra Gold”.

this year’s exercise tactical background emphasized multinational cooperation to deal with the so-called “emergencies” exercises set closer to traditional security field, which is the action of war between countries, is therefore particularly sensitive. Exercise time was extended from three or four days to ten days. Locations in multiple regions of Thailand. Practiced amphibious, airborne operations, special forces operations, and other subjects.

China has never sent troops to take part in this exercise. Since 2002, every year, to send observers to observe.

from the military point of view, the participants of the “Cobra Gold” military equipment, systems, training background are formats, regardless Thailand, the Philippines, Singapore or Japan, South Korea and other countries. The armed forces of these countries together exercises, practice a tacit agreement. All the hardware and software are uniform standards, collaborative handy. This is also very practical value in future operations.

Burmese army is more complex equipment system derived from a number of countries, the performance level compared to countries such as the United States and Thailand behind. Force Training Command system is very different, and the U.S. military, together synergies to be not so easy. Even Myanmar is really sending troops to participate in the exercise, the scale will not be much. But Myanmar to participate in the “Cobra Gold” military exercise mainly lies in his symbolism.

according to a convention of the “Cobra Gold” military exercise, hope that the countries participating in the exercises usually must be issued twice appeared in the requirements, be possible to be allowed to join. Impossible first request was agreed to. In accordance with this judgment, the most smoothly Myanmar can only be achieved in 2014 to send troops to participate in military exercises. But that during U.S. President Barack Obama is still on stage? International takes the form of what kind of change? Are difficult to predict. Therefore, the Burmese army is able to really appear in the ranks of the “Cobra Gold” military exercise, in fact, there are many variables. We wish this to be seen as a weathervane to look toward the future of US-Burma relations. (Lu Xiaodong)

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