SINGAPORE, July 2 Kyodo The Singa...

SINGAPORE, July 2 Kyodo

The Singapore and U navies began an 11-day lengthy bilateral exercise code-named ''Exercise CARAT 02'' in the southern China Sea and in waters southward of Singapore.

a certain number of 2,000 personnel from both sides are taking part in the exercise, which will involve about 14 ships and also patrol aircraft and fighter jets

The exercise, which takes place each summer, is the eighth in a series that has been held annually beneath the Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training (CARAT) program since 1995

''Singapore and the United States share first-rate defense relations...These exercises have contributed significantly to the military cooperation between as well-as; not only-but also; not only-but; not alone-but navies,'' said a joint statement from the Singapore Defense Ministry and the U Defense Department.

''In particular, they have enhanced the interoperability of the two navies in anti-air, anti-surface and anti-submarine operations, as well as diving and salvage operations,'' it said.

Approximately 100 U Navy ships visit Singapore each year as they transit end the region. Currently, two U Navy commands are headquartered in the city-state -- the Logistics assign places to Western Pacific, which is the U Seventh Fleet's principal logistics agent and bilateral exercise coordinator for Southeast Asia, and the Naval Regional Contracting Center

The U Navy also wayss bilateral CARAT exercises every summer with other regional navies similar as those of Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines and Thailand.

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