China Deploys 'JH-7' Fighter-Bomber for Live-Fire Drills in South China Sea

Realistic Training in Response to US Reconnaissance and Naval Exercises
More Fighter Jets and Warships to be Deployed in the South China Sea if US Provocations Continue

[Asia Economy Beijing=Special Correspondent Jo Young-shin] China's state-run Global Times reported on the 21st that the Chinese Navy conducted live combat flight training in the South China Sea. The Global Times added that 'JH-7' fighter-bombers were deployed in this combat flight training.

The Global Times explained the background, stating that the training was carried out over two days starting from the 15th to counter reconnaissance activities by U.S. reconnaissance aircraft and naval military exercises.

The newspaper also reported that four 'J-11B' fighter jets were deployed on Woody Island (Chinese name: Yongxingdao, Vietnamese name: Phu Lam) in the South China Sea.

The South China Sea is a maritime area where China, the Philippines, Indonesia, and Vietnam are engaged in a territorial dispute. It connects to the Taiwan Strait. If China loses control over the South China Sea, the sea route to the Indian Ocean and the Pacific Ocean would be blocked. The South China Sea is not only entangled with the interests of multiple countries but is also a sensitive issue that has been tacitly sealed.

The United States is the one that awakened this sleeping time bomb. On the 13th (local time), U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo directly criticized China, stating that China's unilateral claim of sovereignty over the South China Sea is illegal, and since then, the U.S. military has been strengthening military exercises in the South China Sea.

The U.S. Nimitz-class aircraft carrier strike groups, CVN-68 Nimitz and CVN-76 Ronald Reagan, gathered in the South China Sea for joint exercises, and U.S. reconnaissance aircraft have been increasing reconnaissance activities near the southern Chinese maritime area, provoking China.

The Global Times reported that if U.S. provocations continue in the South China Sea, China will have no choice but to deploy more warships and fighter jets within its Air Defense Identification Zone and conduct more military exercises.

The Global Times, citing military experts, added that the U.S. is escalating tensions in the South China Sea and that China must devise measures to protect its sovereignty and territorial integrity.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.