Exercise Cobra Gold 2011

【Comment】

Exercise Cobra Gold 2011「僅同盟國、友好國參加」？言下之意，中國不是？參加國有美、泰、日、韓、新、馬、印尼，其中美軍佔一半。但觀察家有汶萊、中國、印度、寮國、荷蘭、紐西蘭、俄羅斯、南非。還有參與沙盤演習的其他國家。四天就建立一個單一的聯合司令部，還要建個學校、建醫院，已經不是單純的軍事演習而已，真不簡單。

以往在4、5月間舉行，今年選在2月初，是不是太熱？

總之，共同社判斷：中國將要玩自己的眼鏡蛇。有趣。

中國或謀劃"中國版金色眼鏡蛇"爭奪地區安全主導權●共同社（2011.02.07）

　　【共同社清邁2月7日電】代號“金色眼鏡蛇”的東南亞地區最大規模多國聯合軍演7日在泰國清邁拉開帷幕。這已是迄今為止第30次舉行。駐日美海軍陸戰隊基地司令官格魯克（Kenneth Glueck）稱，軍演旨在通過維和行動和人道主義救援訓練為地區和平和穩定作出諸多貢獻。

　　另一方面，有觀察人士指出在南海的軍事活動日趨活躍的中國或將同樣實施多國聯合軍演以對抗美國，因此日美等國懷疑中國有意爭奪地區安全事務的主導權。

　　中國從2002年起每年派出數名觀察員參與“金色眼鏡蛇”演習，曼谷的軍事外交人士認為中國“遲早會宣佈正式參加”。

　　然而，中國去年在以往的中泰陸軍特種部隊軍演基礎上擴大規模，首次舉行了中泰海軍聯合軍演。根據上述人士透露，有消息稱中方在將空軍也納入兩國全面聯合軍演範圍後，暗示有意邀請其他國家進行“中國版金色眼鏡蛇”軍演。

　　“金色眼鏡蛇”年度聯合軍演始於冷戰時期的1982年，最初由美泰兩國參加，扛著反共大旗。美國希望將該軍演保留“僅同盟國、友好國參加”的性格。如果加入中國的話，則考慮通過別的途徑來實現，如允許更多國家參加的東盟地區論壇所組織的聯合救災訓練。預計美國和中國的角力將越演越烈。（完）

http://tchina.kyodonews.jp/news/2011/02/4306.html

"金色眼鏡蛇"多國聯合軍演拉開帷幕●共同社（2011.02.07）

【共同社清邁2月7日電】代號“金色眼鏡蛇”的東南亞地區最大規模多國聯合軍演7日在泰國清邁拉開帷幕。

　　“金色眼鏡蛇”年度聯合軍演始於冷戰時期的1982年，最初由美泰兩國參加，旨在阻止共產主義勢力在印度支那半島擴大。近年來軍演目的轉為維和行動，日本、印度尼西亞和新加坡等國也參與了進來。

　　繼去年的韓國之後，今年馬來西亞也首次參加，參演國家增至7個。包括日本自衛隊的數十名隊員在內，截至18日共約1.1萬人將在清邁等泰國北部地區展開維和行動指揮所訓練等演習。（完）

http://tchina.kyodonews.jp/news/2011/02/4272.html

Cobra Gold 2011 kicks off in Thailand

US Marine Corps News 2/7/2011 By Gunnery Sgt. Cindy Fisher, III MEF

CHIANG MAI, Kingdom of Thailand -- The opening ceremony for Exercise Cobra Gold 2011 in Chiang Mai Feb. 7, 2011 highlighted the multinational nature of the exercise as well as the many benefits that occur when partner nations train together and look for effective solutions to common challenges.

This is the first year Malaysian troops will join the armed forces of Thailand, Republic of Singapore, Japan, Republic of Indonesia, Republic of Korea and the U.S. for this exercise, the largest multinational exercise in the world, said Judith B. Cefkin, the U.S. deputy chief of mission, U.S. Embassy Bangkok, Thailand, during her remarks at the ceremony.

“This is a significant event.  Cobra Gold is truly an international exercise,” said Thai Lt. Gen. Surapun Wongthai, exercise director, during his opening remarks.

This year’s exercise has brought 24 nations together, Wongthai added.  In addition to the participating nations, observing nations include the State of Brunei, People’s Republic of China, Republic of India, Lao Peoples’ Democratic Republic, Kingdom of the Netherlands, New Zealand, Russian Federation and Republic of South Africa.

Several additional nations are also participating in the Multinational Planning Augmentation Team working in conjunction with Cobra Gold events.

Nearly 13,000 military personnel, about 7,300 of them American troops, will participate this year.

“Cobra Gold is much more than an exercise; it is a major contributor to regional security,” said Lt. Gen. Kenneth J. Glueck Jr., exercise deputy commander and commanding general of III Marine Expeditionary Force.

Glueck attributed the success of past multinational humanitarian efforts such as the response to the Dec. 26, 2004, tsunami in the Indian Ocean to lessons learned during Cobra Gold exercises.

In the tsunami, “over 230 were killed, over 125,000 were injured, 45,000 missing and 1.7 million were displaced,” Glueck said

In less than four days, a coalition task force headquarters was being established “in Utapao to direct the regional response to this crisis.  This could only be accomplished through the results of previous Cobra Gold exercises and the relationships established,” he said.

Over the years, Cobra Gold has grown from the partnership between the United States and Thailand and expanded to include other nations in the region, said Cefkin.

Thailand and the U.S. have a history of cooperation.

The signing of the Treaty of Amity and Commerce March 20, 1833, formalized the two countries’ relationship and makes Thailand the U.S.’s oldest ally in Asia.  Thailand is one of five major non-NATO treaty allies the U.S. has in the region.

The exercise today strengthens military-to-military cooperation and better prepares participating militaries to respond to future crisis, according to Thai Gen. Piroon Paewpolsong, Royal Thai Armed Forces deputy chief of defense forces.

Cobra Gold 2011 will consist of three main components: a staff exercise, field training exercise events and numerous humanitarian and civic assistance projects throughout Thailand.

For the first time, the staff exercise will have a single headquarters element, thereby ensuring participating nations are equal partners throughout the staff exercise’s future operations planning, said Cefkin.

Field training exercise events will include a multination amphibious assault Feb. 10, 2011, in which Thai, Korean and U.S. will participate.  Live-fire exercises and other training events are also scheduled to take place.

There are 17 humanitarian assistance projects, eight engineering projects and nine medical visits scheduled for remote locations throughout Thailand, which will improve the quality if life in these areas, Cefkin said. These visits also allow troops to hone military skills needed for future humanitarian assistance deployments, she said.

The first of the engineering projects began Jan. 17, 2011, at Pa Ka Mai School in Tak province where U.S. Navy Seabees and Thai Army engineers are building a new school building.  The building is scheduled to be completed Feb. 20, 2011.

The first medical civic assistance program visit took place at Don Maung Rae School in Chanthaburi Feb. 5, 2011, where doctors, dentists and veterinarians treated their respective patients.

“Cobra Gold 11 is far more than an exercise; it is truly a dress rehearsal for future responses,” Glueck said.

Cobra Gold, set to end Feb. 18, is a regularly scheduled, annual training exercise.

http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/library/news/2011/02/mil-110207-mcn01.htm