BEIJING, Feb. 10 -- China has sent troops to attend the multilateral military exercise Cobra Gold, led by the United States and Thailand, for the first time, said the Chinese Ministry of National Defense on Monday.

The 2014 exercise, set to open on Tuesday in Thailand's Phitsanulok, will involve forces from eight countries including Thailand, the United States, Indonesia and the Republic of Korea in a range of drills.

Seventeen Chinese soldiers, mainly from the Guangzhou Military Area Command, will participate in humanitarian relief drills.

The Chinese squad will take part in operations at the command and coordination center, engineering assistance, medical aid as well as discussions and exchanges of military medical sciences, according to officers with the foreign affairs office of the ministry.

The exercise will end on Feb. 23.