China to hold maritime drill with Southeast Asian nations

​​​​​​ISTANBUL

The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and China will hold their second joint maritime drill in 2027, according to a statement Friday from the Chinese Defense Ministry.

The decision was made during the 15th China-ASEAN Defense Ministers' Informal Meeting in Kuala Lumpur. The meeting was co-chaired by Chinese Defense Minister Dong Jun and Malaysian Defense Minister Mohamed Khaled Nordin.

China and the regional bloc held their first exercise in 2018 in Zhanjiang, Guangdong province of China.

Dong noted the "steady" expansion of the defense cooperation between China and ASEAN have contributed "to regional peace and stability."

"Faced with a world of change and disorder, it is even more necessary for China and ASEAN to act as anchors of stability and together build a closer China-ASEAN community with a shared future," said Dong.

He expressed Beijing's willingness to cooperate with "all parties to uphold the spirit of seeking strength through unity in order to reinforce the shield of common security."

"China will take practical actions to safeguard the long-term peace and stability of the South China Sea," he said.

Tensions continue to persist in the disputed South China Sea between the Philippines, set to chair ASEAN in 2026, and China, which has vast claims in the resource-rich waterway.

Meanwhile, dialogue on the South China Sea Code of Conduct between China and ASEAN member states is ongoing.

Beijing is committed to the path of a "win-win cooperation, mutual learning, and closer people-to-people ties to enhance collective resilience in addressing security challenges," added Dong.

Khaled and defense leaders from other ASEAN countries "expressed willingness to strengthen defense and security cooperation with China to jointly safeguard regional peace and stability."