Malaysia: Beijing Takes a Major Step Toward Naval Cooperation in Southeast Asia

China, Malaysia and Thailand will hold the nine-day Peace and Friendship 2018 joint naval exercise along the Strait of Malacca starting Oct. 20. The drill will be held in the waters off Malaysia's Port Dickson and Klang. China announced Oct. 14 that it will send a combination of three destroyers and frigates, plus two shipborne helicopters, three Il-76 transport aircraft and 692 service personnel to participate. The exercise represents a major step by Beijing as it seeks to increase cooperation with other Southeast Asian states in response to the growing U.S. naval posture in the South China Sea....