THE Chinese PLA Navy has mobilized warships, supporting vessels and war planes from its South Sea Fleet, East Sea Fleet and North Sea Fleet for a live-fire war game, which has also drawn participation from land-to-surface missile forces.
Friday’s round of the war game is conducted in the South China Sea between the Hainan Island and Xisha Islands in two opposing forces of the Red and Blue corners to test and enhance the battle readiness and capabilities of the Navy under the new circumstances.
“We’ve got to work out on our own on such things about the Blue Corner like where the enemy subs are, from where the enemy warships attack and when the enemy airplanes take off. We gather the information, analyze it and make decisions upon it. For us, it is a real war situation and therefore a test to that effect,” says Zhao Yanquan, commander of the Hefei guided missile destroyer which serves as the flagship of the Red Corner.
Live missiles and torpedoes are fired during Friday’s round. The war game is scheduled to continue till Monday next week.
China‘s Maritime Safety Administration has mapped out the war game zone to alert all vessels and planes about the military drills.
