China’s Navy has carried out drills in the Sea of Japan, the Chinese military’s official newspaper said on Friday, describing the exercises as routine and done in accordance with international law and practice.
The Chinese Navy has increasingly been exercising in waters far from home, as it seeks to hone its operational abilities. Last year, five Chinese ships carried out exercises in international waters in the Bering Sea off Alaska, Reuters reported. The People’s Liberation Army Daily did not say exactly where the latest drills took place, describing it only as a “certain part of the Sea of Japan”.
Drill commander Xu Haihua said the exercises were part of routine annual arrangements and meant to help improve the fleet’s ability to fight far out at sea.
