PLA holds joint landing exercises far away from mainland
A Chinese People’s Liberation Army ( PLA) Navy joint expeditionary training group recently conducted a series of combatscenario, cross- service exercises including amphibious landing in waters away from the mainland, and experts said that such far sea training will boost the PLA’s capability in defending China’s sovereignty and development interests.
The expeditionary group affiliated with the PLA Navy Southern Theater Command featured not only naval forces, but also the command’s Army, Air Force, Rocket Force and Strategic Support Force, in a move to explore tactics in highly intensive joint combat in distant waters, China Central Television ( CCTV) reported Tuesday.
In an amphibious landing exercise session, the Wuzhishan, a Type 071 amphibious landing ship, released several
Type 726 air- cushioned landing craft ( LCAC) carrying marines of the Navy, as the LCACs stormed the beach while joining up with other LCACs carrying Type 96 main battle tanks of the Army released by another Type 071 amphibious landing ship, the Changbaishan, CCTV reported, noting that during the process, Su- 30 fighter jets and H- 6K bombers of the Air Force provided aerial cover for the maritime flotilla and the amphibious landing forces.
During the exercises that would last dozens of days, the naval flotilla also practiced training objectives including comprehensive maritime supplement, main gun shooting, air defense, anti- missile, helicopter takeoff and landing at nighttime, and aerial and maritime joint assault, according to the CCTV report and statements by the PLA Navy on Sina Weibo over the past few days.
The exercises honed the PLA’s cross- service joint combat capability in unfamiliar regions, said Song Zhongping, a military expert and TV commentator.
China needs to prepare for combat and also non- war military operations in regions far away from the mainland in order to defend its sovereignty, security and development interests, Song said, noting that the country also needs to be able to project its military power overseas to safeguard its rightful interests there.