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US military begins Asian war games
AFP, RAYONG, Thailand
Tuesday, Feb 02, 2010, Page 1
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A US Marine lies on the ground after fainting during the
opening ceremony of the annual combined military exercise ˇ§Cobra Goldˇ¨ at U-Tapao
Airport in Rayong Province, Thailand, yesterday.
PHOTO: AFP
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The US military began its largest war games in the Pacific region yesterday
?an annual training exercise with troops from Thailand, Japan, Indonesia and
Singapore, now joined by South Korea.
At the opening ceremony in the eastern Thai province of Rayong, US Ambassador
Eric John said the 静obra Gold?exercise, now in its 29th year, had become a 単ultinational
showcase event.?br />
荘he US continues to view this exercise, which is our premier training event in
Thailand, as an important symbol of US military commitment to maintaining peace
and security in Asia,?John told the audience.
John welcomed South Korea旧 participation in the event, which runs until Feb. 11
and will see soldiers, sailors, marines and airmen from the six countries taking
part in operations across Thailand.
A total of 14,073 military personnel are taking part ?8,741 from the US, 4,658
Thais, 331 South Koreans, 140 Singaporeans, 108 Japanese and 95 Indonesians,
Thai army officials said.
John said the focus of the exercise was on joint peacekeeping operations, and
humanitarian and disaster responses, for which it offered 庁nparalleled?preparation,
citing the 2004 tsunami relief operation as an example.
戦t旧 imperative that our separate militaries learn to work with each other
?together ?and rehearse for the day their services are needed to answer that
call for help,?he said. 声s Cobra Gold is the US military旧 largest exercise in
the Pacific region ?and indeed, the largest exercise of its kind in Asia ?we
welcome the contributions of all the nations who will participate in the coming
days.?br />
In total, representatives from more than 20 countries will participate, observe
or support, he said.
Thailand and the US are long-time allies, but a large sum of US military
assistance to the Southeast Asian nation was suspended after Thailand旧 coup in
2006. The aid was resumed after elections in December 2007.
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