THE Cambodian armed forces has cancelled two major army and navy exercises this year to save funds to be used for the country's economic recovery.
It has also downsized other planned military exercises into small-scale training stints.
"We need to reduce unnecessary expenses to save money which can be used for Covid-19 prevention efforts, economic recovery and to improve people's livelihoods."
Royal Cambodian Army spokesman Major General Mao PhallaMaj Gen Phalla said small-scale trainings will continue with limited participation of no more than 30 soldiers at a time.
"We need to wait for new instructions on whether to annul the previous instructions to hold limited military gatherings. Then we will resume the military exercises. Some units already have the budget to do it."
The RCA conducted its first live-fire exercise, the Golden Hanuman 2019, in Kampot province with more than 2,000 soldiers.
This year's Golden Hanuman army exercise has already been cancelled.
A total of 2,391 soldiers participated in it and used more than 10 types of heavy weapons, including 298 military vehicles and equipment such as 20 BM-21 and RM-70 rocket launchers.
Rear Admiral Mey Dina, the spokesman for the Ream Naval Base in Preah Sihanouk province, said the navy exercise, known as "Chhlam Samuth" or "Sharks" this year was also cancelled.
"The plan to conduct the Chhlam Samuth navy drill was cancelled because we need to prevent an outbreak of Covid-19," he said.
According to the Ministry of Defence, the navy drill was to have been held near Koh Ta Kiev Island in Sihanoukville under the theme "Sea Disaster Relief and Preventing Acts of Piracy".
Despite the local annual army and navy drills being cancelled, a joint military exercise with China, dubbed Golden Dragon, went ahead in March at Kampot province's Chum Kiri district, where about 3,000 soldiers participated.
Kin Phea, director-general of the Royal Academy of Cambodia's International Relations Institute, said the cancellation of the military drills would benefit economic recovery.
"I understand the cancellation of the military exercises will help prevent the high risk of Covid-19 spreading and it is also a measure to save funds from the national budget," he said.
"The government is trying to save money to restore the economy, so any unnecessary expenditure will be curbed."