A. Russia and Iran
B. China and Cambodia
C. USA and UK
D. India and France
The yearly bilateral “Golden Dragon” military exercises between China and Cambodia came to an end in March 2026. Over 2,000 soldiers (including 760 from China), 14 warships, and a variety of cutting-edge military equipment participated in the 2026 version, which was the biggest to date.
Due to the use of armed, self-governing “robot dogs” and growing worries about China’s growing military presence at Cambodia’s Ream Naval Base, the drills attracted a lot of attention in Western capitals. Analysts see the drill as a hint of Beijing’s intention to increase its strategic presence in Southeast Asia, even if China presents it as a standard attempt to improve military cooperation and fight terrorism.
Key Points about Golden Dragon:
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Countries Involved: Bilateral exercise between China and Cambodia
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2026 Scale: Largest iteration yet with over 2,000 troops and 14 warships
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Notable Hardware: Featured machine gun-armed “robot dogs” and FPV drones
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Geopolitical Context: Raises Western concerns about China’s growing military presence in Cambodia, including upgrades to Ream Naval Base
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Exercise Focus: Anti-terrorism, humanitarian rescue, and combined arms operations