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Navy to hold live ammunition drill in E.China Sea amid islands spat The Chinese navy is to conduct a six-day live ammunition drill in the East China Sea starting on July 10. The Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) navy issued a ban on fishing and sailing that was dated July 2 with specific indications of areas that will be covered in the war game.

                                        The areas for live-fire drill

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●The live-fire drill is part of an annual exercise conducted in the East China Sea, regularly held around the same time and in the same area, Song Xiaojun, a military affairs commentator, told China National Radio.

●It's impossible for any navy to temporarily organize a drill to counteract the others since it usually needs at least six months to prepare for it, Meng Xiangqing, deputy director of the Strategic Research Institute at the National Defense University of the PLA, said.

●Korea-based Joongang Daily reported on July 9 that analysts think that China's naval drill in East China Sea this time is a warning to Japan.

●Japan-based Kyodo News reported on July 8 that the drill may aim at US and the Philippines, as the joint military drill of the two countries in South China Sea has not finished yet.

●Singapore-based zaobao.com reported on July 9 that this kind of drill is actually quite normal for Chinese navy in the East China Sea. The drill areas are far away to the Diaoyu Islands.

Related Comments:

●Diaoyu issue needs more than diplomacy
China needs to take action and make Japan think twice. To achieve this aim, diplomatic protests are not enough. We should not be afraid of Japan's possible fierce reactions. After a few rounds, Japan will have to rethink its sense of propriety.

●China holding back strength over Diaoyu Islands, for now
From Chinese perspective, no matter whether the Tokyo metropolitan government or Japanese government purchases the Diaoyu Islands or nationalizes them by other means, it's still a step to consolidate the legality of Japan's control and jurisdiction over the Diaoyu Islands. China won't indulge such behavior, and will inevitably take strong countermeasures.

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Related  Reports

Time	Recent military drills in East Asia
Jul 2	Manila, Washington continue naval drill
Jun 21	S.Korea, US, Japan kick off joint naval drill
Jun 23	S.Korea, US conduct joint drills in Yellow Sea
Jun 8	SCO states to hold joint drill
Apr 25	US, Philippines start joint drills
Apr 22	Russia and China hold joint naval exercise

Recent special coverages of Diaoyu Islands:

●Diaoyu Islands can't be 'bought': FM spokesman

●Taiwan backs Diaoyu activists as mainland urges Japanese restraint