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RAYONG, Thailand-The US military began its largest war games in the Pacific region Monday- 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 G. John said that the "Cobra Gold" exercise, now in its 29th year, had become a "multinational showcase event"."The 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," he told the audience.
John welcomed South Korea's participation in the event, which runs until February 11 and will see soldiers, sailors, marines and airmen from the six countries taking part in operations across Thailand. He said the focus of the exercise was on joint peacekeeping operations and humanitarian and disaster responses, for which it offered "unparalleled" preparation, citing the 2004 tsunami relief operation as an example....
Picture Left:Thai soldiers carry the flags of participating nations who have joined forces for an annual combined military exercise in Rayong province, Thailand.(AFP/Pornchai Kittiwongsakul)
