China yesterday called for an objective and rational view toward its military exercises and training over the past few months.

"Recent exercises and training sessions conducted by the People's Liberation Army (PLA) were routinely arranged. Therefore, we expect related parties to take an objective and rational view," Defense Ministry spokesman Geng Yansheng said at a monthly press briefing yesterday.

The exercises and training sessions Geng referred to included a China-Australia rescue and disaster relief drill this week and an ongoing PLA naval fleet exercise in the west Pacific.

"Some exercises and training sessions are based on the PLA's annual training program, while others are arranged by Chinese and foreign militaries," Geng said.

Geng also referred to the second sea trial of China's aircraft carrier beginning Tuesday as a "routine arrangement."

As a complicated and systematic project, the aircraft carrier's construction involves a number of weapons, equipment and facilities, which all require various tests, Geng said.

"The tests the aircraft carrier will carry out and the time during which it will carry them out depend on the procedures involved," Geng said.

China's first aircraft carrier departed for its first voyage from a port in Dalian, a city in Northeast China's Liaoning Province, on August 10.

Xinhua