Thailand is hosting the largest Cobra Gold exercise in East Asia with the participation of more than 30 countries, including the United States, Japan and China. This is reported by the Kyodo news agency.

This year's exercise is co-hosted by the United States and Thailand, and Japan, South Korea, Singapore, Malaysia and Indonesia are participating in Cobra Gold on a full-time basis. China, India and Australia have joined in a limited format.

A total of about 10,000 people are involved in the maneuvers, including about 6,000 sent by the United States. The Cobra Gold exercise will continue through May 10.

Over the past 10 years, the number of U.S. troops in Cobra Gold maneuvers has decreased from 10,000 to about 6,000 to 7,000.