China flexes its military might with series of naval exercises in local waters
Warships were put through paces in the Yellow, East and, most likely, South China seas, official reports say
China is ramping up its maritime combat readiness, analysts said in response to official reports that the People’s Liberation Army had conducted at least three naval drills in different sea areas over the past week.
The latest show of force by the PLA’s growing fleet was in line with Beijing’s drive to put its troops through ever more complex and realistic training situations, they said.
On Monday, the Southern Theatre Command said on social media that a frigate fleet had recently performed various drills, including live-fire exercises and simulated anti-submarine attacks.
The command, which is one of five such units established by President Xi Jinping to represent China’s five strategic locations, did not disclose the locations of the exercises, but its area of responsibility encompasses the disputed South China Sea.
The images published online appeared to show at least five frigates and two helicopters taking part in the drills.
On Saturday, Xinhua reported that more than 10 warships from three theatre commands took part in a large-scale air and missile defence exercise in the East China Sea.
