Chinese military base Archives | SpecialOperations.com

Tensions in the South China Sea increased on Tuesday after the US sent two US B-52 bombers flew within the vicinity of the contested Spratly Islands, according to a statement from US Pacific Air Forces, which oversees air operations in the region.

The flyover came days after Secretary of Defense James Mattis called Beijing out over its militarization of the islands, accusing China of “intimidation and coercion” in the Indo-Pacific, making clear the US has no plans to leave the region and prompting a furious Chinese response.
Beijing claims the Spratly Islands, but those claims aren’t recognized by the US or by China’s neighbors — Malaysia, Vietnam, the Philippines and Taiwan — which also say the islands are theirs. China has used geographic features in the Spratlys to build man-made islands, some of which it has equipped with military facilities, including anti-ship and anti-aircraft missiles.
A US defense official who has knowledge of the mission’s original flight plan said it called for the nuclear capable B-52 bombers to fly about 20 miles from the islands.
A spokesman for the Pentagon said the mission involved the Guam-based bombers conducting “a routine training mission,” flying from Andersen Air Force Base in the US territory of Guam “to the Navy Support Facility” in the United Kingdom’s Indian Ocean territory of Diego Garcia.
On Tuesday, the bombers flew from Diego Garcia and conducted “training” in the vicinity of the South China Sea, returning back to Diego Garcia the same day, according to the statement from US Pacific Air Forces.

Defense Secretary Jim Mattis said that the Chinese are using intimidation and coercion in the region by militarizing these man-made islands. The Chinese minced few words either as Foreign Minister Hua Chunying called the latest from Washington as “blatant lies.”

“China will not be intimidated by any planes or ships. We will only be firmer in our resolve to take all necessary measures to safeguard our sovereignty and security as well as maintain peace and stability in the South China Sea.”

To read the entire article from CNN, click here:

Photo courtesy Wikipedia

Chinese troops from their first overseas base took part in their first live-fire drills in a show of combat readiness. The exercise on Friday in the African country of Djibouti took place at the national training range and involved dozens of troops according to a People’s Liberation Army Navy press release.

Troops arrived at the base – China’s first overseas garrison – less than two months ago and the drill was meant to test the personnel’s capacity to handle a range of weapons and tasks in extreme heat, humidity, and salinity, the report said.

“This is the first time our soldiers stationed in Djibouti have left the camp to conduct combat training,” base commander Liang Yang was quoted as saying.
“The live-fire training will help explore a new training model for the [Chinese] overseas garrison.”
Footage aired by state-run CCTV showed PLA marine corps using various weapons – from pistols to automatic rifles, sniper rifles and machine guns – to fire at targets.
Beijing-based military expert Li Jie said the troops had to be on combat alert at all times because of the region’s complex political conditions and Djibouti’s geographic importance.

The Chinese also claimed that a PLA ship docked in Djibouti was probed by combat divers from a Japanese ship docked nearby. One of China’s official newspapers the Procuratorial Daily reported that the Chinese used strong lights and signals to drive away the Japanese divers.

The Chinese also claimed that the live-fire drills were a message to the local militias in the unstable African country “not to harass” the Chinese.

“Since the political situation in Djibouti is very unstable, the troops need to let local armed groups know of their combat strength. They need to tell them that the Chinese forces are there not only to set up the logistics base but must also be able to deal with all kinds of security challenges,”

To read the entire article from The South China Post, click here:

Photo courtesy Wikipedia

Chinese military base

US B-52 Bombers Fly by Chinese Contested Spratly Islands

Chinese Troops Live Fire Exercise Show of Force in Djibouti