China discloses bombers' flight drill in show of force

China has revealed scenes of a fleet flight exercise by 20 bombers through an official news outlet on Wednesday. U.S. Fox News reported Tuesday (local time) that China deployed fighter jets to a disputed island in the South China Sea.

China was conducting shows of force at various places while its foreign minister was negotiating with his U.S. counterpart over territorial disputes in the South China Sea and the North Korean nuclear issue.

The Internet edition of China's official Huanqiu Shibao (Global Times) reported Tuesday that 20 of Chinese air force bombers conducted a 35-hour flight drill. The aircrafts flew 10,000 kilometers in total and 1,000 kilometers at very low altitudes. They flew over four of China's five military regions and used six airfields for takeoffs and landings. Experts said that flying 10,000 kilometers in 35 hours means the pilots continued to fly day and night for two days, suggesting that the drill was focused on enhancing the pilots' continued operational skills.

The Internet news site also reported that the construction of China's second aircraft carrier, which is its first locally developed one, was proceeding smoothly, showing photos and an artist's concept of the carrier.

Meanwhile, several Chinese fighter jets were detected over Woody Island, part of the Paracel island chain in the hotly disputed region in the South China Sea.

Satellite imagery showed that the aircrafts were the J-11 and JH-7, the Chinese air force's main fighter jets. It was not the first time that Chinese fighters were detected over Woody Island. However, the fact that China deployed ground-to-air missiles and fighter jets to the island despite Washington's protest reflects Beijing's intention to turn the South China Sea islands into its military bases.

On Monday, the Center for Strategic and International Studies, a U.S. think tank, said China is building a high-frequency radar system at Cuarteron Reef on the Spratly Islands in the South China Sea.

베이징=구자룡특파원 bonhong@donga.com