 |
| Chinese Navy Ships on patrol (File Photo) |
The official Weibo micro blog page of China's People's Liberation Army (PLA) Navy announced this week that since 2012, the Miyakato Strait near Japan and the Bashi Channel near Taiwan and the Philippines, have been designated as an area for routine drills and exercises.
The announcement marks a departure for the PLA Navy, which had previously conducted most of its activities in the Miyakato Strait, which is located between Japan and Taiwan.
The Bashi Channel is a waterway that is part of the Luzon Strait in the Pacific Ocean. It's situated between outlying islands of Taiwan and the Philippines and serves as a natural but often-disputed border between the two nations.
The PLA Navy's aim of expanding operations into the Bashi Channel this year may raise concerns about a potential impact on Taiwan's national security.
Read the full story at Want China Times