Naval aircraft take to skies for long-range drills

The People's Liberation Army navy has conducted several drills involving long-range operations of naval aircraft, significantly improving its air support capability, military officials said.

The PLA navy's aviation force confirmed the drills in a statement on its website on Monday.

"In recent years, the navy used ... ships' long-distance patrols, training and large live-fire exercises to mobilize various types of naval aircraft to fly through the Bashi Channel and Miyako Strait and perform drills in airspace above the western Pacific Ocean," the statement said.