Chinese Navy Ramps up Drills in Disputed Sea
The Chinese navy has conducted live-fire exercises in the disputed South China Sea , reports Reuters.
China claims almost all of the energy-rich waters, through which more than US$5 trillion of maritime trade passes each year. The Philippines, Brunei, Vietnam, Malaysia and Taiwan have overlapping claims.
China's defence ministry said the drills were routine, even though other countries have made claims over various parts of the disputed territory.
"The People's Liberation Army Navy in recent days organised a fleet to go to relevant seas in the South China Sea, by way of the Western Pacific, to carry out exercises," China's Defence Ministry said in a statement. "This action is a routine arrangement made in accordance with this year's naval training plan."
Chinese state-run media on its Twitter feed posted images of the live-fire drill conducted by the Chinese navy. The People's Daily, however, did not mention the exact location where the exercise was conducted.
Washington has criticised Beijing’s building of artificial islands in the South China Sea’s disputed Spratly archipelago, and has conducted sea and air patrols near them.