"Floating Islands Appear in South China Sea Exercises, Experts: Chinese Forces Can Transition from Training to Combat at Any Time"

[Global Times - Global Network Report by reporter Fan Wei] The Southern Theater Command reported on September 27 that on that day, it organized a joint maritime and air training exercise in the air and sea areas around Huangyan Island. Subsequently, the China Coast Guard also announced that on the same day, it organized multiple vessels to conduct law enforcement control exercises in the waters near Huangyan Island in the South China Sea. Videos obtained by Global Times reporters show that during this joint exercise, the vessels and aircraft deployed by the Chinese side were well "adapted" to the law enforcement tasks in the Huangyan Island waters, and the training subjects were highly targeted. Relevant experts interviewed by Global Times reporters stated that this joint military-police exercise was highly "combat-oriented," and as long as there were "border-crossing" actions by foreign parties, the Chinese exercise forces could "shift from training to combat" at any time.

The Southern Theater Command stated in its report that the purpose of this joint exercise was to test rapid response and emergency handling capabilities, while the China Coast Guard focused on practicing law enforcement actions such as boarding inspections, interception of intrusions, and forced removals during this exercise, testing multi-vessel coordination, rapid response, and emergency handling capabilities.

"The joint military-police exercise conducted by the Southern Theater Command's naval and air forces and the China Coast Guard in the Huangyan Island waters is located in our territorial sea and nearby waters, and the exercise content includes driving away foreign vessels and aircraft, law enforcement, maritime search and rescue, etc.," said Yang Xiao, a researcher at the Institute of Peace and Development Studies of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, in an interview with Global Times reporters on the 27th. These correspond to some "high-frequency" incidents that have occurred in the South China Sea in recent years, and "the exercise reflects a high level of professionalism, which is beyond reproach for foreign parties."

Videos obtained by Global Times reporters show that during this joint exercise, the Southern Theater Command's naval and air forces deployed equipment such as the Tianmen ship, Yulin ship, Qinghai Lake ship, KJ-500 early warning aircraft, and Wuzhen-7 drone. The Coast Guard deployed vessels of different tonnages and types, including the Wanshan ship, Chuanshan ship, and Sifang ship.

Among them, the Qinghai Lake ship is our military's ocean comprehensive supply ship. According to Global Times reporters, before the commissioning of the Type 901 supply ship, the Qinghai Lake ship was the largest supply ship in the Chinese Navy, known as a "floating island at sea." It can carry tens of thousands of tons of fuel and other supplies, mainly providing fuel and fresh water, and is equipped with a helicopter hangar for vertical replenishment. The appearance of the Qinghai Lake comprehensive supply ship can provide strong logistical support for vessels on combat readiness duty in the waters around Huangyan Island.

The Wuzhen-7 drone, which made its debut in the South China Sea exercise, has high-altitude long-endurance reconnaissance capabilities, can quickly capture target traces and upload information, guiding strikes, and has formed a new capability for coordinated operations with manned aircraft.

"This exercise adopted a military-police coordination format, focusing on testing the capabilities of integrated linkage and three-dimensional control. It practiced a series of subjects including aerial reconnaissance, situational awareness, external pressure driving away, and interception boarding, reflecting the Chinese side's comprehensive control capabilities over the South China Sea," Yang Xiao stated.

This joint exercise coincides with the Philippines' efforts to rally some countries to organize a maritime security expert group exercise under the ASEAN defense ministers' expanded meeting, making the military-police joint exercise conducted by the Southern Theater Command highly targeted. Yang Xiao believes that this exercise is highly "combat-oriented," and the units participating in the exercise are frontline forces that have been carrying out combat readiness duties and routine law enforcement in the South China Sea for many years, capable of being ready for combat at any time. "The exercise itself is also a form of combat readiness duty; as long as there are 'border-crossing' actions by foreign parties, the Chinese exercise forces can shift from 'training to combat' at any time."

The Southern Theater Command also stated in its report that this is a necessary action in response to the current actions of certain countries that undermine regional peace and stability, aimed at testing and enhancing the troops' practical capabilities to safeguard national territorial sovereignty and maritime rights.

Yang Xiao further analyzed that the essence of the Philippine side organizing this exercise is to try to coerce ASEAN countries to cooperate with the Philippine side's infringement provocations and to hype up the situation, pulling ASEAN countries to "stand on the platform" for the Philippine side's infringement actions in the South China Sea. However, it can be seen that this little scheme of the Philippine side is easily seen through by most ASEAN countries. The main participants in this military exercise organized by the Philippine side are external countries such as Japan, Australia, and India. Although this military exercise is under the banner of ASEAN, the actual "ASEAN content" is low, which also indicates that the Philippine side's claims and actions in the South China Sea do not receive support from most ASEAN countries.