China: PLA conducts naval-air training exercise at Huangyan Dao.

The Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) Southern Theater Command conducted a joint naval-air training exercise in the territorial sea and airspace of China's Huangyan Dao and its surrounding areas on Saturday. The theater command said in a statement that relevant subjects included reconnaissance and early warning, deterrence patrol, air-sea control, and joint strike. The drills commenced immediately after the operational order was issued, with bomber formations and a naval fleet, including the destroyer Zhanjiang and the amphibious transport dock Qilianshan, arriving at the designated zone on schedule. During the exercises, the bomber units executed simulated strikes against maritime targets, while the naval task force established air-defense formations to repel mock aerial assaults. Operating teams utilized helicopters and ship-borne small boats to search for surface targets, conduct armed boarding operations on simulated hijacked vessels, control the ships to rescue hostages, and carry out emergency medical triage and evacuation for wounded personnel. According to the theater command, the exercise effectively honed the troops' naval-air coordination, rapid support and win-by-system capabilities. The theater command also said that the drill is a necessary action taken in light of the current situation in the South China Sea and in response to the acts of certain countries within the region that have undermined regional peace and stability. The training exercise aimed to test and enhance the army's real combat capabilities to safeguard China's territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests, the theater command said. Shotlist: South China Sea, China - Aug 1, 2026: 1. Airplane in joint naval-air training; 2. Various of military vessels in training; 3. Various of airplanes, vessels, pilot in training; 4. Various of ship-borne small boat sailing; 5. Various of helicopter; soldiers boarding vessel from helicopter; 6. Soldiers boarding vessel from small boat; 7. Various of soldiers controlling vessel; 8. SOUNDBITE (Chinese) Sun Junhui, officer on naval vessel Zhanjiang (starting with shot 7/ending with shot 9): "Similar joint training exercises have become our routines. We adhere to sharpening our ability to respond to various contingencies at combat-readiness standards, and always maintain a state of readiness to execute missions at any time and effectively counter various risks and challenges."; 9. Vessel sailing; 10. Various of soldiers in training; 11. Various of planes in training; 12. Island. [Restrictions: No access Chinese mainland]