Chinese air force planes Monday flew through Tsushima Strait for the first time and conducted drills in international airspace over the Sea of Japan, an air force spokesperson said.

 

中国空军发言人表示，我军飞机周一首次飞越对马海峡并在日本海国际空域进行训练。

 

The drills, involving bombers¹, fighters, reconnaissance planes and other aircraft, were aimed to examine the high-sea combat ability of the air force, said Shen Jinke, spokesman for the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) Air Force.

 

The drills accomplished² the planned purpose and improved the air force's maneuvering³ capability⁴ on the high sea, he said, adding that Chinese planes responded to interference from foreign military aircraft. 

 

As part of the air force's annual training program, the drills are in line with international laws and practices and do not target any particular country, region or object, said Shen.

 

The spokesman stressed that Tsushima Strait is not territorial⁵ waters, hence all countries enjoy freedom of navigation and overflight under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.

 

He described the drills as "legal and reasonable."

点击收听单词发音