Ministry urges no 'excessive interpretation' on coastal drills

Updated: 2016-05-18 12:23

By ZHANG YUNBI(chinadaily.com.cn)

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The military's recent drills along China's southeastern coast were "regular arrangements made in accordance with the annual training plan", and they do not deserve "excessive interpretation", the Ministry of National Defense said on Wednesday.

The response was made after comments on some media outlets said the drills were relevant to the situation along the southeastern coast.

"In recent days, our troops conducted drills for the ground force, navy and air force in the southeastern area, and they were aimed at examining and promoting the capability to tackle security threats and completing military missions," the ministry said in a written release.

Such drills were regular arrangements made in accordance with the annual training plan, and they "did not aim at any specific target and it is unnecessary for the relevant individuals to embark on excessive interpretation," the ministry added.

The People's Liberation Army has conducted at least three landing exercises in China's southeastern coastal regions since the beginning of May, military media reported.

The latest and largest one was carried out recently by a regiment under the PLA 31st Group Army, which is based in Fujian, a coastal province across the Straits from Taiwan.

Zhao Lei contributed to this story.

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