China is expected to hold its first joint military exercises with a group of Southeast Asian nations later this year. China and the 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations, or ASEAN, agreed to the exercises during a meeting in Singapore last month. Singapore’s defense ministry released a statement at the meeting. It said ASEAN defense ministers “welcomed” the chance to hold maritime exercises with China. The joint exercises are expected to happen before the end of 2018. Experts say the goal of the exercises is to train naval forces from countries operating in the South China Sea to deal with possible conflicts and avoid accidents. They would also work to develop a code of conduct that aims to set rules to keep the sea safe for shipping. ASEAN members and China are still working on final language for the code of conduct, which could be completed this year.
