The Chinese government through their powerful Chinese Navy carried out a “live firing drill” in the hotly-contested South China Sea on Tuesday as confirmed by Chinese media to improve its maritime combat ability despite the tensions flared over the disputed waters.
According to Chinese State Media, at least 100 naval vessels, dozens of aircraft, missile launch batallions of the Second Artillery Corps and Information Warfare Troops involved in the military exercises citing Navy sources.
Xinhua News Agency also confirmed that dozens of missiles and torpedoes, as well as thousands of shells and jamming bombs were fired during the live firing drill, which according to the Chinese tested their navy’s air defense and early warning system.
For the past few years, China has rapidly expanded its navy, commissioning its first aircraft carrier in 2012 and adding to its submarine and surface fleets.
The Chinese government through their Navy, is currently pursuing a rapid program of artificial island construction in the South China Sea, despite being locked in disputess with the Philippines, and other Southeast Asian countries.
