ASEAN eyes maritime exercise with U.S. next year: Singapore minister

Singapore Defense Minister Ng Eng Hen said Friday that the Association of Southeast Asian Nations is planning a maritime exercise with the U.S. Navy next year.Ng told a press conference after a meeting of ASEAN defense ministers in Singapore that the ministers have "agreed to conduct an ASEAN-U.S. maritime exercise next year."It would be the first such exercise involving the United States and all 10 ASEAN countries. Although details were unavailable, a source said it is likely to be held in August 2019.The move appears to be aimed at striking a balance between China and the United States, w…READ FULL ARTICLE