Beijing's belligerence in the contested South China Sea appears to be continuing as the People’s Liberation Army Navy recently held another round of drills in the region.
Although the PLA Navy did not specify where the drill was conducted, it said in a social media post that the frigate detachment of the Southern Theatre Command Navy carried out a full training and assessment on air defence and missile interception, anti-surface attack, and vessel damage control.
The PLA Navy created a realistic environment, dynamic situations and practical tasks, involving launching attacks on targets and search and track exercises, to increase the difficulty of the test.
China's assertiveness in the South China Sea has been constantly increasing. The PLA had conducted drills, involving reconnaissance, early warning, and air-sea patrols, from September 30 to October 1, coinciding with China's National Day.
China's claim of sovereignty over the resource-rich South China Sea is countered by other claimants, including Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Taiwan, and Vietnam.
With island-building and naval patrols, China has been extending its reach in the region, even as countries like the United States have called for "freedom of navigation" in the South China Sea, which is a major shipping route.
