This is the first time the navy has sent its frigate to take part in the international naval exercise.

The exercise has been timed to coincide with the ASEAN Defense Ministers Meeting Plus Maritime Security and Counterterrorism Exercise (ADMM+MS/CT 2016) in Brunei and Singapore on May 2-12, aiming to share information to resolve maritime security challenges and terrorism in the region.

The 18 countries joining the exercises are Australia, Brunei, Cambodia, China, Indonesia, India, Japan, the Republic of Korea, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, New Zealand, Russia, Singapore, Thailand, the Philippines, the US and Vietnam.