A maritime garrison under the East China Sea Fleet of the Navy of the Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) organized maritime maneuvering and missile-firing drill on September 14, 2012, in a bid to temper the combat capability of the troops in complex electromagnetic environment. (TP.chinamil.com.cn/Jiang Shan)
Chinese naval fleets have recently passed through the international waters between Okinawa and Miyako and headed for the Pacific for an ocean-going exercise, which triggered speculations of Japanese media and politicians. Actually, every time the Chinese navy carries out the ocean-going exercise, the Japanese side will make a fuss. It is thought-provoking why Japan is so vigilant against the legitimate training and maritime activities of the Chinese navy.
As China has vast territorial waters, it is an objective requirement of safeguarding national maritime security to strengthen naval construction and carry out blue sea trainings. In 1986, Chinese navy sent fleets to the waters of Pacific Northwest for joint combat training. In recent years, Chinese warships have been patrolling and escorting ships in Gulf of Aden off the waters of Somalia. The blue water training has become routine training course of Chinese navy.
The Miyako Strait and Osumi Strait are the only routes for the Chinese navy to head for the Western Pacific, and it is in line with the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea and other international laws for the Chinese navy to pass through the Miyako-Osumi Strait. Therefore, the Japanese side has no reasons to stir up troubles.
