On May 28, 2026, Eth Sarath, deputy commander-in-chief and joint chief of staff of the Royal Cambodian Armed Forces, met a delegation from the People’s Liberation Army’s Southern Theater Command to discuss preparations for the Golden Dragon 2026 joint exercise.
Sarath said he hoped the two sides would strengthen coordination, expand the exercise and enrich its content to improve joint training and cooperation.
He said the working groups needed to continue discussing the timing, location, training subjects, personnel, equipment and support arrangements, and draw up detailed plans.
Discussing its purpose, Sarath said the Cambodia-China Golden Dragon 2026 joint exercise aimed to strengthen military capabilities, was not intended to threaten any country and would help promote friendship and cooperation between the two armed forces.
The exercise was described at the meeting as a platform for military exchanges and cooperation. The Chinese representative said army, naval and air forces had participated since 2024.
Sarath expressed the hope that continued cooperation would help make the 2026 exercise a success and demonstrate the two militaries’ new equipment and modern training capabilities.
