According to a Chinese Defense Ministry statement, the Chinese Navy is conducting live-fire exercises in the East China Sea.
The statement said that the drills included the firing of dozens of missiles and torpedoes to strengthen “the assault intensity, precision, stability and speed of troops amid heavy electromagnetic influences.”
The live fire exercises directly opposes the international arbitration tribunal ruling that rejected Beijing’s claims to the South China Sea. China rejected the ruling calling it “waste paper.” They elected to ignore the ruling and for days made angry statements as well as conduct naval live fire exercises in the South China Sea.
“An information technology-based war at sea is sudden, cruel and short, which requires fast transition to combat status, quick preparation and high assault efficiency,” the ministry statement said.
The drills included submarines, ships, aircraft and coast guard forces.
Beijing claims to control almost all of the South China Sea, a bustling body of water that sees more than $5 trillion in annual trade passes. Beijing has also created man-made artificial islands on which they have placed air strips, radar towers and other military infrastructure.
Malaysia, Taiwan, the Philippines, Brunei, and Vietnam all have claims to the South China Sea.
Last week, China announced that it would conduct naval drills with Russia in September.
[revad2]
