BEIJING — China's navy carried out a "live firing drill" in the South China Sea Tuesday in a bid to improve its maritime combat ability, state media reported, as tensions flare over the disputed waters.
The exercise involved at least 100 naval vessels, dozens of aircraft, missile launch battalions of the Second Artillery Corps and information warfare troops, Xinhua news agency said, citing navy sources.
It added that dozens of missiles and torpedoes, as well as thousands of shells and jamming bombs, were fired during the drill, which tested the navy's air defense and early warning system.
It also "improved its ability to react quickly," Xinhua said.
China has rapidly expanded its navy in recent years, commissioning its first aircraft carrier in 2012 and adding to its submarine and surface fleets.
It is currently pursuing a rapid program of artificial island construction in the South China Sea, despite being locked in disputes with several countries over its claims to almost the entire area.
China Conducts Live Firing Drill In S. China Sea
AFP downplays China’s air, sea drills in disputed South China Sea
July 29, 2015 1:15pm
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The Armed Forces of the Philippines on Wednesday downplayed the
live-ammunition drills conducted by China in the disputed South China Sea, saying it is the nation's right to conduct such exercises.
"It's the right of any sovereign nation to conduct any kind of exercises that they think are relevant to their own security interest," said military spokesperson Col. Restituto Padilla Jr.
Chinese state media reported that the air and sea drills held Tuesday involved more than 100 ships, dozens of aircraft, several missile launch battalions, and information warfare troops.
Reports did not specify where exactly the exercises took place.
China has become increasingly assertive as it claims most of the potentially energy-rich South China Sea; while Philippines, Brunei, Malaysia, Taiwan, Vietnam also have overlapping claims in the disputed area.
Padilla said the government of China should be transparent in all its exercises so as not to be misinterpreted to be threatening anyone.
"Everybody in the region, the United States also included, is encouraging them to be transparent so that all of their motives, all of their activities will not be questioned. This is something that the community of nations and among the military are trying to establish," he said.
Padilla said authorities are closely monitoring China's exercises to ensure that these are not conducted within the Philippines' exclusive economic zone.
"We have our forces in our own territorial waters so from that end and from the capabilities that we have, namomonitor naman natin," he said.
— Kathrina Charmaine Alvarez/RSJ, GMA News
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