A two-plane formation attached to the PLA Eastern Theater Command conducts simulated strikes on targets. (Photo by Feng Hao)
By Huang Kunlun and Zhang Lei
NANJING, May 24 -- Starting from 7:45 on 23rd, the Eastern Theater Command of the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) conducted joint military drills in the Taiwan Strait, the north, south and east of Taiwan Island, as well as areas around the islands of Kinmen, Matsu, Wuqiu and Dongyin.
After the Joint Operations Command Center of the PLA Eastern Theater Command issued the operation order, several destroyer-frigate formations assigned to the navy of the theater command maneuvered to the waters around Taiwan Island at high speed and in different directions. Upon reaching the preplanned target sea areas, all the ships carried out combat disposition rapidly. Then the various formations conducted simulated multidimensional saturation strikes by employing multiple types of weapons.
The air force under the PLA Easter Theater Command sent dozens of fighter sorties to conduct systematic combat patrols around Taiwan and cruises surrounding the outlaying islands. Flight formations consisting of multiple-type aircraft flew to the designated airspaces with live ammunition and cooperated with the destroyers and frigates and missile boats to conduct simulated strikes against the "enemy's" high-value military targets as well as their vessels and aircraft in reconnaissance and patrol missions.
At the same time, the troops of the army and the rocket force entered preplanned areas according to the order, and the firing units immediately occupied firing positions and got prepared for the firing tasks. Then they carried out joint strikes and other training subjects with naval and air assault forces.
Supported by the joint operational system of the PLA Eastern Theater Command, the troops also conducted drills on subjects such as anti-sea assaults, land strikes, air defense and anti-submarine in the waters and airspaces to the north and south of Taiwan Island, further testing the troops' combat capabilities of multi-domain coordination, joint strike and so forth.
A warship attached to the PLA Eastern Theater Command cruises at sea. (Photo by Wang Liping)
