China is participating in joint military exercises with the U.S. and Australia for the first time, even as it continues to raise tensions in the region by asserting its disputed claims to much of the South China Sea.
Five soldiers from the U.S. Marine Corps, 10 from China’s People’s Liberation Army and 10 from the Australian Army are taking part in the survival training exercise known as KOWARI 14, according to a statement from Australia’s Department of Defence. The exercise concludes on Oct. 25.
