# Laos

China Leads 161st Multinational Mekong Patrol as Regional Security Drive for 2026 Begins

China and its Laos, Myanmar and Thailand partners launched the 161st joint Mekong patrol on January 26, initiating the 2026 campaign with coordinated departures from Yunnan and partner ports. The operation, preceded by a commanders' meeting in Jinghong, aims to suppress transboundary crime and sustain stability in critical river stretches.