Chinese military conducts drill in E. China Sea amid rising tension

China conducted a naval exercise in the East China Sea on Friday amid heightened tension with Japan over the disputed Senkaku Islands (called Diaoyu in China).

The joint drill involving the Chinese navy, marine surveillance agency and fishery administration simulated a situation in which an official Chinese vessel clashed with a foreign ship.

According to China’s official Xinhua News Agency, 11 vessels from the Chinese navy, fishery administration and marine surveillance agency and eight aircraft took part in the exercise.

The exercise simulated a situation in which a Chinese patrol boat was damaged after colliding with a naval or civilian vessel of another country. Chinese naval forces responded to the situation from the air and sea.

Beijing is considered to have conducted the drill to show its will to send naval vessels to the islands if a real situation occurred. The Chinese government said the exercise was part of its annual plan. The joint exercise had been conducted in the past but Friday`s event was the first this year.

“When carrying out missions in disputed waters, patrol vessels of the fishery administration and marine surveillance agency have been stalked, harassed and even intentionally interfered with by foreign vessels, greatly challenging their duties,” Xinhua said, adding that the purpose of the exercise was “to safeguard territorial sovereignty and maritime interests.”

Separately, Hong Kong’s Phoenix TV quoted the U.K. weekly New Stateman on Friday as saying China was building five aircraft carriers and significantly beefing up its naval presence as part of efforts for naval modernization. The Chinese military had denied reports last month that it was building new carriers.

koh@donga.com