The Vietnamese Ministry of Defense rejected the claim that Vietnam has sent three military officers to join the Cobra Gold military exercises being held in Thailand, the largest drill in Southeast Asia.
The Ministry confirmed yesterday afternoon that Vietnam only sent one military attaché to Thailand to attend the opening ceremony.
The 30th 12-day multilateral military strategy exercises codenamed Cobra Gold in Chiang Mai was kicked off Monday.
The exercises are the largest in Southeast Asia.
Earlier, Vietnamplus and foreign sources had reported that Vietnam and nine other countries -- Australia, Canada, France, Italy, Britain, Bangladesh, Cambodia, Nepal, and the Philippines – sent three personnel each to participate.
The military exercise -- which is hosted annually by Thailand as a bilateral effort between the US and Thai militaries since 1982 -- attracted full participation of the US, Japan, South Korea, Indonesia, Singapore and, for the first time, Malaysia.
AP news agency quoted Royal Thai Armed Forces Deputy Chief of Defense Forces Gen. Piroon Paewpolsong as saying the training this time will be focused mostly on peacekeeping support and stability operations.
Representatives from ten countries -- China, India, Brunei, Laos, Russia, South Africa, New Zealand, the Netherlands, Pakistan and the United Arab Emirates - are also involved in this year\'s exercise as observers.
