CHINA-PLAN: EXERCISES IN SOUTH CHINA SEA WARNING TO TAIWAN

Website navy.81.cn, affiliated to PLA Daily, reported on January 25, 2018, that six landing ships were taking part in an exercise in the South China Sea on January 22, 2018. It said the fleet conducted training, including artillery practice. China's Type 071 amphibious landing ships - Jinggangshan and Kunlunshan - joined the exercises.  Retired PLAN Senior Captain Li Jie, a Beijing-based naval expert, told Global Times on January 24 that the "The PLA Navy is responding to the Central Military Commission's call for more training to strengthen combat capabilities," and is "strengthening its combat capability by conducting drills in the South China Sea in an effort to deal with potential disputes and national reunification in the future". He said "other countries should familiarize themselves with the situation".Li Jie said the military drill is also sending a signal to other countries that China has the resolution and capability to safeguard its sovereignty and interests in the South China Sea.He said "Countries outside the region should not meddle with the issue" and that "Foreign countries should get used to reports on PLA Navy exercises and should not make groundless speculation as the Chinese military is strengthening its capability in keeping with China's development." 

(Comment: This is the second time for the public to see reports on fleet exercises within a month. The last report in the PLA Daily on January 14 said two PLAN landing ships and more than 100 soldiers conducted actual combat training including air-defense and anti-missile.)






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