Military calls naval exercise 'routine'

The Chinese Navy's recent large-scale training exercise in the South China Sea is "normal and routine" and was not intended to target any third party, the Defense Ministry said on Thursday.

Senior Colonel Ren Guoqiang, the ministry's spokesman, made the remark in response to media inquiries about recent satellite photos taken by the United States showing that aircraft and about 40 vessels from the People's Liberation Army Navy, including the CNS Liaoning aircraft carrier, traveling in formation in the South China Sea.

"The exercise is part of this year's planned training to improve combat capabilities. It is normal and routine and does not target any certain country or party," Ren said in a news conference.