Question: Which country will host the ASEAN Maritime drill?
(a) Japan
(b) India
(c) South Korea
(d) Indonesia
Answer: (c)
Related facts:
- A two-part maritime exercise by the 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and its partnering countries took place in South Korea’s port city of Busan.
- The exercise aimed to counter maritime crime, including illicit transactions of weapons and other banned items.
- The drills took place from 29th April to 2nd May, 2019 in South Korea, following which they will be held in Singapore from 9th May to 13th May, 2019.
- This exercise involved 18 countries of the ASEAN Defence Ministers’ Meeting-Plus. Out of the 18 countries, 12 countries sent 16 warships and six aircraft for the exercise. Six other countries sent their military personnel.
- South Korea’s Navy sent a 4,400-ton destroyer Wang Geon, the 2,500-ton frigate Jeonbuk, 4,900-ton landing ship Cheonjabong, two UH-60 choppers and one Lynx helicopter for the first part of the exercise.
- Naval forces from India, Brunei, China, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, and the United States, led by the Korean Navy, practiced the art of rescuing ships hijacked by armed groups, amongst other maritime security operations.
- Japan skipped the portion of the drills which was held in South Korea amid tensions caused by a military argument with Seoul late last year. It later joined the drills in Singapore.
Links:
https://www.aninews.in/news/world/asia/s-korea-set-to-hold-asean-maritime-drills20190428155344/