Chinese ships guarding an oil rig in the South China Sea near Vietnam. (Photo : Reuters)
Chinese fleets have conducted advanced training drills to increase their combat effectiveness using situations that resemble actual combat conditions, Reuters reported, citing an article published by the PLA Daily on Sunday, April 17.
The drills started on April 7 using new methods that included training within an electromagnetic environment. The fleets had previously undergone training in all-weather condition, low altitude, beyond visibility range, and high-speed exercises for pilots.
"To think about special situations in an even more complex way, to make the enemy situation even more dangerous, to make the battlefield environment even more lifelike, is an important path in order for the navy and air force to stick close to the demands of real combat and accelerate its transformative production model for fighting strength," Tian Junqing, a division commander, was quoted as saying.
It was not disclosed where in the South China Sea the drills took place.
The report added that other drills will be explored by the fleets, including 24-hour maritime attack drills, minimum altitude defensive dashes and other military tactics. The fleet will also work in coordination with other branches of the military in early aerial warnings, surface ships and ground anti-aircraft defense.
More than $5 trillion in global trade passes through the South China Sea every year. Part of the sea is claimed by Southeast Asian neighbors that include Malaysia, Brunei, the Philippines, Vietnam and Taiwan.
In Dec. 2015, the Chinese navy also carried out naval exercises in the disputed South China Sea as part of their routine drills.
"The People's Liberation Army Navy in recent days organized a fleet to go to relevant seas in the South China Sea, by way of the Western Pacific, to carry out exercises," China's Defence Ministry said in a statement.
"This action is a routine arrangement made in accordance with this year's naval training plan," it added.
Similarly, the Chinese military did not say where exactly the drills took place, but pictures of navy ship doing live-fire exercises were shown in social media accounts of the state media.
The U.S. has been criticizing China for building artificial islands in the disputed waters and conducting patrols near the area.
