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China holds naval drill in Sea of Japan

This file photo shows Chinese and Russian naval vessels participating in joint exercises on the East China Sea, May 24, 2014. (By Reuters)

China has conducted a “routine” naval drill in the Sea of Japan with the participation of missile-equipped warships, a Chinese military publication says.

The drill was conducted in “certain part of the Sea of Japan,” China’s People’s Liberation Army Daily said on Friday, without providing any more specifics.

“Exercises far out at sea in international waters are commonly done by navies of the world, and this year our navy has many times organized fleets to carry out exercises far out in the Western Pacific,” the newspaper said.

Chinese destroyer Xi’an, frigate Hengshui and supply ship Goyouhu took part in the exercise.

Drill commander Xu Haihua described the exercise as part of routine annual arrangements, which was meant to help improve the navy’s ability to fight far out at sea.

The Chinese military daily said the drill was carried out in accordance with international law and “was not aimed at any specific country, region or target.”

The strategic Sea of Japan is bordered by Japan, North Korea, Russia and South Korea.

China conducted a joint naval drill with the Russian navy near the waters of the Sea of Japan last year.

China’s next-generation missiles

Meanwhile, local Chinese media say Beijing is considering using a high level of artificial intelligence and automation in developing its next generation of cruise missiles.

Chinese military vehicles carrying cruise missiles are seen during a military parade at Tiananmen Square in Beijing, September 3, 2015. (Photo by AFP)

“We plan to adopt a ‘plug and play’ approach in the development of new cruise missiles, which will enable our military commanders to tailor-make missiles in accordance with combat conditions,” Wang Changqing of the China Aerospace and Industry Corp told the state-run China Daily.

“They will allow commanders to control them in real time manner, or to use a fire-and-forget mode, or even to add more tasks to in-flight missiles,” Wang added.

Beijing’s growing military power has concerned the United States as well as China’s neighbors, some of whom are engaged in territorial disputes with it.

China, however, says it has no hostile intention and that it only seeks to modernize its military in an attempt to protect its legitimate security needs.


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