The Cobra Gold 2014 multilateral military exercise opened on Feb. 11 in Thailand's Phitsanulok. China has sent troops to attend the military exercise for the first time.

Seventeen Chinese soldiers, mainly from the Guangzhou Military Area Command, will participate in humanitarian relief drills. They will not engage in any combat maneuvers.

The Chinese squad will take part in operations at the command and coordination center, in engineering assistance, and in medical aid, as well as participating in discussions and exchanges on military medical science.

Why will China not engage in combat drill? Fang Bing, a military expert said when interviewed that the Cobra Gold exercise is in fact dominated by USA with the participation of Southeast Asian countries. In the circumstances, it is reasonable for China to dispatch a contingent of this scale to engage in non-combat drill. This is after all the first time that China will join such a military exercise. All parties will have a process of gradual familiarization, understanding and contact. In addition, this is also a process of further improving military relations.

When asked why the participants were selected from Guangzhou Military Area Command, Fang Bing answered: Because different Chinese military regions have different duties and orientations. If any security problem arises in the region of ASEAN and Southeast Asia, Guangzhou Military Area Command is required to make the first emergency response.

Fang Bing also said that the Chinese army has been gradually engaging in USA-dominated military exercises in recent years, which indicates that Sino-American strategic mutual trust has been increasing.