Chinese Naval Exercises Stoke Tensions

19/10/2012 by Paul Fiddian - Armed Forces International's Lead Reporter

The People's Liberation Army Navy has launched naval exercises that coincide with an ongoing islands dispute with Japan.

According to the Xinhua news agency, the Chinese naval exercises - which are taking place in the East China Sea - are designed to hone the PLA Navy's ‘response to emergencies in missions to safeguard territorial sovereignty'. 11 PLA Navy ships are participating while, overhead, eight PLA Navy aircraft are also involved.

Earlier this week, it was reported that China is now spending four times more on defence than it did 12 years ago. Based on that, China is the world's second-biggest defence spender, behind the US.

PLA Navy Exercises

It's not known exactly where in the East China Sea the PLA Navy exercises are being conducted but they appear to be a single-day affair, confined to 19 October 2012.

The disputed islands are positioned in between Japan and Taiwan and, two years ago, were the subject of a heated row involving China and Japan. Known as the Senkaku Islands to people in Japan and the Diaoyu Islands to Chinese residents, they're currently controlled by Japan but both China and Taiwan also claim ownership.

"I'm aware of the reports," Japanese Chief Cabinet Secretary Osamu Fujimura today stated. "The government does not have any details of the actual content of the exercises, so I will refrain from commenting further. In any case there is no change to our basic stance of continuing to pay close attention to China's moves."

Chinese Naval Exercises

Several days prior to the Chinese naval exercises, the Japanese Defense Ministry observed a PLA Navy warship fleet passing close to the Okinawa Islands as they left the Pacific Ocean and passed into the East China Sea. China has since said that this was just a transitory movement, necessary to get the warships back home after standard training sorties.

The People's Liberation Army Navy was established in 1950 and its military engagements have included the Vietnam War. It currently employs an estimated 250,000 naval personnel and, last month, received its first aircraft carrier - the former Varyag constructed in the Soviet Union in the 1980s. Now named the Liaoning, it's unique in PLA Navy service but serves alongside its destroyers, frigates, guided missile boats, patrol boats and amphibious warfare ships.