Source:Global Times Published: 2017/12/12 14:37:42
China’s People’s Liberation Army (PLA) Air Force conducted a routine maritime training on Monday, using various types of jets, including H-6K bombers and J-11 fighter jets over the Bashi Channel and the Miyako Strait, a military spokesperson said Tuesday.
H-6K bombers, Su-30, J-11 fighter jets, reconnaissance, early warning planes and tanker aircrafts completed the routine “patrol circling the island,” PLA Air Force spokesperson Shen Jinke said on Tuesday, according to a post on the PLA Air Force’s Sina Weibo account.
The jets flew over Bashi Channel and the Miyako Strait, and carried out trainings maneuvers, including circling the “island,” which improves the force’s capability to safeguard China’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, Shen said.
The spokesperson added that after the successful conclusion of the 19th Communist Party of China (CPC) National Congress, the PLA Air Force focused on combat readiness and has conducted a series of offshore and maritime training. The PLA warplanes’ flight paths are continuously extended, with combat readiness growing accordingly.
The PLA Air Force’s actions are justified and consistent with international laws and practices. The PLA Air Force will stick to its set plans and continue to fly further and deeper.
The air force started regular high seas training in 2015.
The PLA planes circling the island of Taiwan will become routine during their training, an air force commander told reporters during the 19th CPC National Congress in October. An aircraft completes its mission of circling Taiwan when it passes both the Bashi Channel and Miyako Strait, which is also a sign of breaking the “first island chain,” Global Times previously reported.
Global Times