news

Recently, we have seen that due to the constant interference of some countries outside the region in the South China Sea issue, the originally relatively calm environment in the South China Sea has been turbulent again, resulting in some new conflicts and frictions. We can see clearly that these conflicts and frictions are not caused by the internal conflicts of the countries surrounding the South China Sea, because we are still conducting relevant negotiations, because we all hope to actively promote the framework agreement on the code of conduct of countries in the South China Sea, move forward step by step, resolve disputes in a peaceful way, and eliminate interference from outside the region. We are working in this direction. However, some countries outside the region are unwilling to give up and continue to send military aircraft and warships to conduct so-called joint military exercises in this area. They are also trying to build more military bases in these countries surrounding the South China Sea and deploy their advanced weapons and equipment in these bases.

In this context, our Southern Theater Command conducted a military exercise near Huangyan Island. In this military exercise, one is the time selection, in early August, and the second is the location of Huangyan Island. The subjects of the exercise are mainly to demonstrate or drill, that is, reconnaissance and early warning, rapid maneuver, and joint strike. Why is such an exercise conducted at this time and at this node? Because Huangyan Island is China's inherent territory. Since it belongs to our territory, we must of course defend our territorial sovereignty and our maritime rights and interests, including our territorial waters and airspace.

Now, when it comes to safeguarding their own rights and interests, countries outside the region are unwilling to give in. They want to intervene in the security issues in the region and take the opportunity to stir up trouble. The Chinese People's Liberation Army must not only have confidence and determination, but also have the ability. This ability is achieved through military exercises and military training. Let's first look at the subjects of this exercise. Why is the reconnaissance and early warning exercise first? Because Huangyan Island is a relatively small atoll composed of coral reefs, that is, not much of it is exposed above the water. Therefore, we cannot deploy airports and docks on it. We can only send our coast guard and warships to patrol here, which leads to the problem of reconnaissance and early warning.

Some countries' warships and aircraft are deliberately provoking us by flying towards us or circling here. This is not a free navigation that will end once it passes by. It is a military provocation, or even throwing buoys into the water.Sonar, throwing a submarine. That directly threatens our security, and is actually a provocative activity against us. In this regard, you must first detect it through satellites, aircraft, and surface ships, including some of our radars on the islands that are close to us. These are all reconnaissance means, so we must improve our early warning and reconnaissance capabilities. The second is rapid maneuvering. If the opponent is an aircraft, then only by sending aircraft can the speed keep up. If you want to send ships, then nearby ships must move in this direction. This tests the rapid maneuvering ability, because only by mobilizing the combat platform can we identify and verify, warn and drive away, or track and monitor, and perform such tasks, so we must test it.

The third is joint strike. Why do we need joint strike? Because in this area, they may send aircraft, which are fast, or they may send warships, because they can stay in this area, and they may secretly use submarines to attack you without anyone noticing. Then you need to rely on sonar to detect them. So when you identify and verify these targets, for example, if it is not a merchant ship, it is not passing through, it is just passing through, and it is deliberately provoking, then after the identification and verification, you need to track, monitor, warn and drive it away, because it is approaching your territory and invading your territorial waters, then of course you have to drive it away.

But what if some military platforms, whether warships or aircraft, deliberately do not move, or even want to open fire? Because you have to be prepared for this: if no one offends me, I will not offend others. If someone offends me, I will definitely offend them. When you attack it, your ships can now launch missiles to attack aircraft. No matter how fast your aircraft runs, it cannot run as fast as missiles. If it is a ship, our aircraft is chasing fast, for example, when our ships have not arrived yet, the aircraft will come to attack first, discover the enemy first, and attack the enemy first, because you are fast.

So when we talk about joint strikes, we mean that the forces of the sea and air should be united, including our guarding forces on some islands, and we can also attack them through shore artillery and missiles. So the joint attack can form a multi-directional and multi-dimensional strike, so that the invaders will have no return. This can deter the invaders and make them dare not covet our territory, territorial waters, and airspace. It is impossible to do something that harms others and then want to get away with it. So I think that when our Southern Theater Command exercises such subjects, it can not only improve our own military response capabilities, but also can be a good deterrent to those countries and regions that have ill intentions towards our territory, territorial waters, and airspace. ​