Chinese military stepping up night drills to counter US, analysts say as state TV airs footage

Name: China’s PLA Air Force aims to improve pilot training on J-20 fighter jets
Uploaded: 2022-03-31T23:00:18.000Z
Duration: 1 min 19 s
Description: China’s PLA Air Force aims to improve pilot training on J-20 fighter jets

Activities along coasts of East China and South China seas increasing, with particular emphasis on hours between midnight and dawn, observers say

PLA Navy held nearly 100 night drills in 2021 compared with 30 in 2020, analyst says

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Video footage shows the Chinese military during a night drill. Photo: CCTV

Minnie Chan

Published: 7:00am, 1 Apr 2022Updated: 10:30am, 1 Apr 2022

Chinese state television has shown footage of day-and-night drills by the People’s Liberation Army along the coasts of the East China and South China seas, which defence analysts said had been stepped up this year to counter the US Navy’s increasing activities in the region.

A PLA Navy flotilla led by the Type 052D destroyer Zibo and Type 054A frigate Yang Zhou this month conducted a two-day live-fire exercise in the East China Sea, state broadcaster CCTV reported on Wednesday.

The exercises included underwater reconnaissance, and air-defence and ship-to-ship strikes, CCTV said. Video clips showed navy forces downing approaching torpedoes, and launching ship-to-air jamming bombs and ship-to-ship missiles to make precise strike hits, practising their rapid response in multiple-mission scenarios.

Another day-and-night drill, involving a Type 071 amphibious transport dock, took place off the coast of Guangdong, close to Hainan island. Marines drove several ZBD-05 amphibious infantry fighting vehicles and ZTD-05 amphibious assault vehicles to land on the island at night, according to CCTV on Tuesday.

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China’s PLA Air Force aims to improve pilot training on J-20 fighter jets

J-10B and J-10BS jets were reported to have flown distances of more than 5,000km (3,000 miles) in less than 20 hours in a day-and-night cross-regional exercise early this month. The long flights required pilots to stop at several unfamiliar airbases for short rests, in a test of their stamina, rapid response and logistics support.

Defence analysts said the PLA’s navy and air force had enhanced night training this year because the Americans had stepped up reconnaissance and other military activities in the region.