Joint drills with ASEAN proposed

Major initiative meant to help avoid potential miscalculations on the South China Sea ZHANG YUNBI

State Councilor and Minister of National Defense Chang Wanquan said on Friday that China is willing to hold a joint drill with ASEAN countries to better fulfill the Code for Unplanned Encounters at Sea, a major initiative that analysts said will help avoid potential miscalculations on the South China Sea.

Chang made the announcement while chairing an informal meeting of the Chinese and ASEAN defense ministers. Most of them are likely to attend the sixth Xiangshan Forum over the weekend in Beijing, a high-level annual defense seminar hosted by China to focus on Asia-Pacific security cooperation.