Bangkok, Feb 6 (IANS): China will for the first time take part in the Thai-US military exercise starting this month, said Lt. Gen. Tharnchaiyant Srisuwan, also joint director of the exercise.
The exercise, named Cobra Gold 2014, will cover areas in Phitsanulok, Khon Kaen, Chon Buri, Rayong and Chanthaburi provinces and will be held Feb 11-21, the Bangkok Post reported Thursday.
The primary participants in the military exercise will be about 9,000 US troops and 4,000 Thai troops.
Other participants include 80 troops from Singapore, 120 from Japan, 300 from South Korea, 160 from Indonesia and 120 from Malaysia.
China will send 25 troops for the military exercise.
Eleven other countries will send observers -- Myanmar, Laos, Vietnam, China, South Africa, New Zealand, the Netherlands, Ukraine, Russia, Pakistan and Britain.