South China Sea: Chinese air force ‘sends warning’ to US Navy with live-fire drills

Name: Washington’s hardened position on Beijing’s claims in South China Sea heightens US-China tensions
Uploaded: 2020-07-21T13:02:48.000Z
Duration: 2 min 32 s
Description: Washington’s hardened position on Beijing’s claims in South China Sea heightens US-China tensions

Military expert says China was sending a message to the US over its recent activities in the area

The PLA has also sent more fighter jets to its base on disputed Woody Island in the Paracels, according to satellite images

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The PLA’s live-fire drills in the South China Sea on Wednesday and Thursday last week involved JH-7 bombers. Photo: Weibo

Minnie Chan

Published: 9:02pm, 21 Jul 2020Updated: 11:58pm, 21 Jul 2020

China’s air force held live-fire drills and sent more fighter jets to its base on disputed Woody Island in the South China Sea last week, as the US Navy steps up drills and freedom of navigation operations in the region.

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.

It came after Washington last week formally rejected most of Beijing’s expansive maritime claims 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.

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Washington’s hardened position on Beijing’s claims in South China Sea heightens US-China tensions

Hong Kong-based military commentator Song Zhongping said the exercises were aimed at sending a warning to the US Navy over its recent patrols in the area, as the bombers were designed to attack warships at sea.

“China has also developed another bomber, the J-16, which is more powerful than the JH-7,” Song said, adding that he expected the PLA to send more advanced fighter jets to the region for drills.