South China Sea: PLA starts month-long drill in push to modernise soldiers while resisting US operations
Topic | South China Sea
Published: 3:41pm, 1 Mar, 2021Why you can trust SCMP1.3k119
China’s military exercise is being conducted west of the Leizhou Peninsula in Guangdong province during March. Photo: ReutersThe People’s Liberation Army kicked off a month-long military exercise in the South China Sea on Monday, as the United States steps up reconnaissance operations and France sends military vessels to the region.
The prolonged PLA drill comes as it intensifies joint operation exercises to help build the Chinese military to meet modern warfare requirements.
China is conducting its military exercise in a zone with a radius of 5km (3.1 miles) west of the Leizhou Peninsula in Guangdong province, according to a navigation restriction notice released by the China Maritime Safety Administration on Friday. The notice warned that other vessels should not enter the area during March, but did not provide further details.
The naval exercises are taking place as China vows to firmly defend its territorial integrity.