last week, as the US Navy steps up drills and freedom of navigation operations in the region.China’s air force held live-fire drills and sent more fighter jets to its base on disputed Woody Island inthe South China Sea
The People’s Liberation Army Southern Theatre Command conducted the drills on Wednesday and Thursday last week, with more than 3,000 missiles fired at moving targets at sea, state-run China National Radio reported on Sunday. It did not say where in the South China Sea the exercises were held.
Photos from the drills posted on state broadcaster CCTV’s website showed they involved JH-7 bombers and J-11B fighter jets.
in the strategic, resource-rich South China Sea, through which one-third of global shipping passes, and parts of which are also claimed by Vietnam, the Philippines, Malaysia, Brunei and Taiwan. The tougher US line has worsened tensions between the two superpowers and Chinese military experts say it could push the PLA to conduct more frequent drills in the region.It came after Washington last weekformally rejected most of Beijing’s expansive maritime claims…