The armed forces from China and United States will carry out a six-day military drill next month, the Chinese military said.

The drill, slated on Nov. 13 to 18, will be conducted at a training base of the Peoples' Liberation Army (PLA) in the Southern Theater Command in Kunming, Yunnan Province.

Like Us on Facebook

The US military is expected to send some 90 personnel from its Pacific Forces to take part in the drill aimed at strengthening the readiness of forces in case of disaster.

A total of 134 personnel from People's Liberation Army (PLA) will take part in the drill.

"Chinese and US Armies will stage a joint military drill featuring rescue and disaster alleviation in southwest China from Nov. 13 to 18," spokesperson Wu Qian told reporters, according to state run Xinhua news agency.

"The drill will be carried out in line with the consensus reached by the two armed forces, and the participants will undertake humanitarian rescue and disaster reduction operations at high altitude," Wu added.

The joint military exercise comes at the height of the South China Sea dispute.

Last week, a US-guided missile warship, the USS Decatur, sailed near Paracel islands in the disputed region.

China described the incident as "illegal" and "provocative" before it conducted a "surprise" drill in the contested waters this week.

Back in July, an international tribunal had ruled in favor of the Philippines and found no merit in Beijing's "historic" ownership claim over the South China Sea. Beijing, however, refused to recognize the ruling. United States, a close ally of the Philippines, has repeatedly urged China to abide by the ruling. 

Tagschina, US, PLA, Joint Military Drill, South China Sea