China Conducts Joint Counter-Terrorism Exercises With Vietnam and Indonesia
China is coordinating joint counter-terrorism drills with Vietnam in Hanoi and has concluded similar military training with Indonesia in Guangzhou.
The Government of China is executing a series of bilateral security operations to strengthen regional stability through joint counter-terrorism exercises with Southeast Asian partners.
In Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, China and Indonesia concluded the Sharp Knife 2026 joint army training on November 2. The exercise, which began October 27, focused on tactical coordination, land- and water-based rescue, and coordinated clearance drills. This third edition of the series included thematic seminars and cultural exchanges to enhance military friendship.
Simultaneously, China announced the upcoming Cooperation-2026 exercise to be held in Hanoi, Vietnam, in early to mid-November. The People's Armed Police and the Vietnamese Ministry of Public Security will train in complex urban environments, focusing on high-rise building assaults and explosive ordnance disposal. This marks the second such event since an inaugural 2024 exercise in China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region. The shift to a Vietnamese venue is intended to familiarize personnel with the local operational environment and signal growing mutual trust between the two nations.
