The live-force drill in the land and air domains of the China-Cambodia "Golden Dragon-2025" joint exercise is underway on May 28, 2025. Photo: Southern Theater Command's WeChat account

The China-Cambodia "Golden Dragon-2025" joint exercise concluded with a live-fire drill in the land and air domains and a closing ceremony at a training center in Kampong Chhnang Province, Cambodia, on Wednesday local time, marking the completion of the joint military exercise, according to Xinhua News Agency. 

The live-force drill was based on a scenario where "terrorists" attacked a Chinese-Cambodian joint venture, took "hostages" in a hotel within a block, and used surrounding buildings for resistance, Xinhua reported.

By focusing on urban counterterrorism, the drill emphasized hostage rescue and the encirclement and elimination of threats. It employed site displacement, pre-set conditions, and continuous execution, dividing the operation into four phases: joint blockade, assault and rescue, pursuit and elimination, and full control.

Some 24 tactical actions were carried out, including multi-dimensional reconnaissance, airborne control and defense, multi-directional assault, hostage rescue, emergency medical treatment, and clearing remaining enemies.

The drill established a joint directing headquarters and a joint command post, with Chinese and Cambodian participating forces unified as a joint task force.

After the exercise, the chief directors from both sides reported on the overall situation, and leaders from both countries awarded outstanding officers and soldiers who participated in the drill, Xinhua said. 

According to Xinhua, The China-Cambodia "Golden Dragon-2025" joint exercise further deepened cooperation and mutual trust between the two sides, enhanced the joint command and operational capabilities of the two militaries, and elevated their level of integration and combat readiness to a new starting point and higher level.

Previously, a live-force drill was conducted in the maritime and aerial domains near the port of Sihanoukville, Cambodia, on Monday local time, which marked the first air-sea joint military live-force drill in the "Golden Dragon" series, as well as the first time the Cambodia-China Joint Support and Training Center at Port Ream was utilized for live-force operations.

"With the enhancement of the Cambodian navy's capabilities and the improvement of its training centers, the two sides will have more opportunities for joint exercises in land, sea, and air domains in the future," Fu Qianshao, a Chinese military affairs expert, told the Global Times.

Such cooperation will help strengthen China's friendly relations with Southeast Asian countries and jointly maintain peace and stability in the South China Sea region, Fu added.