People's Liberation Army (PLA) Air Force's aircraft including the H-6K bombers flew over the Miyako Strait and performed a long-distance drill far into the western Pacific Ocean, reaching more than 1,000 km beyond the First Island Chain, according to Shen Jinke, a spokesperson for the PLA Air Force last Friday. Meanwhile, there was a patrol with fighters and early warning aircraft in the East China Sea Air Defense Identification Zone (ADIZ).

The PLA's Air Force is of strategic significance and has the ability to protect national interests and ensure airspace security. In response to changing situations and missions, the PLA's air force launched a campaign to help build squadrons committed to learning and encouraged the pilots to learn more through research on tactics and actual-combat training. Since the beginning of this year the PLA's Air Force has already conducted four drills far into the western Pacific Ocean to improve the fighting skills of the air force pilots in areas far offshore.

The drills, normal exercises for any country along the sea, cater to the normal needs of a national defense force and military development and China will continue to carry them out in accordance with international practice and laws, the spokesperson said.

Since the establishment of the ADIZ two years ago, the PLA's Air Force has been keeping constant air patrols in accordance with Aircraft Identification Rules for the East China Sea Air Defense Identification Zone of the P.R.C.