The People’s Liberation Army Navy (Chinese Navy) conducted several naval drills in disputed South China Sea (SCS) by employing its major destroyers and frigates, carrier-based helicopters and new submarines.
Key facts
- The naval exercise was based out of the Sanya training base of the Chinese Navy which mainly focused on anti-submarine warfare.
- It was conducted as part of a regular annual naval drill aimed at implementing President Xi Jinping’s call for a military that is capable of fighting and winning wars.
- Chinese navy claims that these drills have vigorously improved the Chinese navy’s anti-submarine combat abilities based on informationalised systems.
- However, they have not disclosed the details of the exact time and places for the maneuvers of these drills.
Comment
These naval exercises were conducted after United States (US) President Barack Obama and leaders of other Asian Countries bordering SCS had recently voiced their concerns and pressurised China over its giant land reclamation projects in disputed waters of SCS during the 2015 Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Summit held in Manila, Philippines.
China is claiming its territorial sovereignty over the entire SCS including the adjacent waters of its Asian neighbours including Vietnam, Philippines, Malaysia, Brunei and Taiwan which in turn is harming the regional peace and stability.