China says South China Sea drills routine military training
China’s Defense Ministry has announced that ongoing drills in the South China Sea are part of routine military training.
“Its (military training) aim is to test the training capabilities of the People’s Liberation Army and enhance their training capabilities. It is also aimed at improving combat abilities of the whole military,” the ministry spokesman Ren Guoqiang said Thursday, adding that the drills were routine and in line with annual plans which were not aimed at any country.
Ren, however, declined to comment on the presence of the Liaoning aircraft carrier group in the drills.
“As to the specific movements of the aircraft carrier the Liaoning, the navy will release information in due course,” Ren said.
The official later confirmed a statement by the Taiwan defense ministry that the Liaoning had passed through the Taiwan Strait last week and said it was part of normal and regular training activities.
Satellite images have shown that dozens of Chinese naval vessels are exercising with the Liaoning off China’s Hainan Island.
The drills in the important trade waterway are being viewed as a large show of force by China amid renewed tensions with the United States over Taiwan.
China claims Taiwan as its own and says it should eventually rejoin the mainland. Washington disputes the claim while insisting that Beijing has gone too far in claiming sovereignty over nearly the entire South China Sea region.
Sources close to the Chinese military have reported that Beijing would hold massive drills in the South China Sea and East China Sea each month in 2018.
Ren also said Thursday that drills in those regions would continue, without elaborating on future plans.
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