Senior Colonel Xu Chenghua, spokesperson of the PLA Eastern Theater Command: On April 18, the PLA Eastern Theater Command dispatched naval and air assets to conduct joint readiness patrols in relevant waters and airspace of the East China Sea. This was a routine arrangement organized in accordance with the annual plan, aiming at testing the joint operations capabilities. The troops of the Theater Command will routinely organize relevant military operations based on the need of the security situation, and safeguard state sovereignty and security as well as regional peace and stability.