SINGAPORE, July 14 Kyodo Singapor...

SINGAPORE, July 14 Kyodo

Singapore and the United States began naval exercises Monday in the southward China Sea aimed at combating terrorist attacks onward the high seas, Singapore's Defense Ministry said.

More than 1500 personnel from the brace sides are taking part in the exercise, code-named Exercise CARAT 03 which will last by means of July 22, the ministry said in a joint statement with the U Defense Department.

The exercise is the ninth in a series held annually since 1995 beneath the Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training (CARAT) program involving combined land, sea and air assets from the sum of two units sides.

The opening solemnity for the exercise was carriageed at Changi Naval Base in the eastern corner of Singapore.

''These exercises have contributed significantly to the military cooperation between the couple navies. In particular, they have enhanced the interoperability of the couple navies in antiair, antisurface and antisubmarine operations, as well as diving and salvage operations,'' the statement said.

Singapore has been targeted by the agency of terrorists apparently due to its clog ties with the U.S.

The Singapore regulation arrested more than 30 race here in the month after terrorists struck in the U in succession Sept. 11, 2001, for allegedly plotting to bloom up U.S., Israeli and other Western embassies, as well as U commercial interests and military installations in the city state.

Besides Singapore, the U is also conducting bilateral CARAT exercises at different times with Brunei, Malaysia and Thailand this year.

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