China conducted high-intensity navy drills in the South China Sea on Thursday, as tensions grow over these waters between its allies. China’s expansion of its military forces has become a cause of concern for its neighbours, while the US continues to stand up to Beijing over its claim of ownership of most of the waters, including the contested Paracel and Spartly Islands.
China’s H-6G and H-6J bombers participated in the high-intensity drills, which the country’s defence ministry said was carried out successfully. They had also carried out day-and-night training sessions over take-off and landing, as well as long-range assault, and attack on sea targets. While speaking about this, the Chinese Defence Ministry’s spokesperson Ren Guoqiang had said that these were part of routine exercises and that the expected results had been achieved, without disclosing the particulars of the drill’s location.
China is at loggerheads with India, US, Japan and Vietnam, as it has infuriated them by building artificial islands in the South China Sea, with military installations in several parts of the sea.
Meanwhile, the Trump administration is pressing Australia to increase freedom of navigation exercises in the South China Sea. This has come after Australia had declared “there is no legal basis” to China’s territorial and maritime claims in the South China Sea, marking an escalation of recent tensions with Beijing.