US-China military tensions remain high despite epidemic

The PLA Navy recently completed a 41-day live-fire drill in the Western Pacific, the longest and largest of its kind for two years. Photo: PLA Navy

SCMP: Coronavirus: US-China military tensions remain high despite epidemic

* Beijing responds to US freedom of navigation operations in East and South China seas by staging its largest live-fire naval exercise in two years
* But defence ministry says it will scale back military drills as PLA troops are deployed to help fight the deadly disease

China’s air force and navy have raised their combat-readiness level since the Lunar New Year
in response to increased freedom of navigation exercises by US forces in the East and South China seas, according to official media.

Pilots from the Eastern and Southern theatre commands have been forced to cancel their holidays and engaged in repeated patrol flights on the country’s defensive front line, PLA Daily reported.

The heightened activity comes despite the People’s Liberation Army (PLA)having deployed thousands of military detachments to support the efforts to combat the coronavirus outbreak in the central China city of Wuhan.

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