China continues military exercises in the Western Pacific

(Baonghean.vn)- Xinhua news agency reported on December 21 that Chinese military aircraft again conducted exercises in the Western Pacific region, with bombers and fighter jets dispatched from the East Sea naval air force conducting exercises with warships.

China's first aircraft carrier, the Liaoning, has arrived for exercises in the Western Pacific. Photo: THX

Chinese aircraft, mostly from the air force, have been conducting increasingly large-scale exercises far from its shores in recent years, most recently around the self-ruled island of Taiwan and near Japan.

Dozens of aircraft, including bombers, fighters and early warning aircraft, conducted drills in the Western Pacific along with warships, Xinhua news agency reported, without specifying the exact location of the drills.

Xinhua quoted military sources as saying that the drills were routine, part of annual plans and in line with international laws and regulations, and were not aimed at any country or region. Xinhua added that the drills did not affect freedom of navigation and overflight in the region.

The participation of aircraft from the South China Sea Fleet means they may have flown over the disputed waters, where China is building airfields and other military facilities, some on artificial islands, in a move that has drawn criticism from the region. Last week, a US think tank said Beijing continued to install high-frequency radar systems and other facilities that could be used for military purposes on artificial islands in the South China Sea./.

Lan Ha

(According to Reuters)