China Joins 19-Nation ADMM‑Plus Disaster Drill in Indonesia

Overview

• The ADMM‑Plus exercise in Banten, which began Sept 20, runs through Sept 26 and involves about 2,200 military and civilian personnel from 19 countries including all 11 ASEAN states and eight dialogue partners.
• China’s Ministry of National Defense confirmed Chinese military participation, with Beijing framing its role as practical cooperation to deepen military trust and improve crisis-management channels.
• Trident Resolve is the first ADMM‑Plus field exercise to unite three experts’ working groups on cyber security, humanitarian assistance and disaster relief, and military medicine in combined training.
• Singapore and Indonesia are operating medical ships such as RSS Endeavour and KRI dr. Soeharso, and the OPERA information system is being used to create a shared operational picture for multinational coordination.
• Organisers say the drill simulates an earthquake, an Anak Krakatau eruption and a tsunami to improve search-and-rescue, medical evacuation, CBRN and cyber-resilience, a focus sharpened by the 2018 Sunda Strait tsunami and recent volcanic activity.