
China's PLA offers details on live-fire Pacific drills led by Type 055 destroyer Zunyi
The
People's Liberation Army (PLA) of China has released details on live-fire drills in the Pacific targeting both aerial and maritime threats, without disclosing the exact area of operation.
Advertisement
The exercise included coordination and resupply operations, underscoring combat readiness and enhanced joint operational capabilities, the PLA Navy was quoted as saying by Chinese state broadcaster CCTV on Tuesday.
The report comes days after live-fire PLA Navy drills in the Tasman Sea put
Australia and New Zealand on alert , prompting dozens of commercial flight diversions and naval monitoring by both countries.
According to the CCTV report, the naval task group was led by the Type 055 stealth guided-missile destroyer Zunyi, and included the Type 054A frigate Hengyang and the Type 903 replenishment vessel Weishanhu.
While the report did not provide a specific location or time for the drill, the names of the three vessels match those in reports referring to PLA Navy exercises last week that raised concerns in Canberra and Wellington and triggered a diplomatic row with Beijing.
Advertisement
It said the exercises spanned several days in challenging sea conditions, and involved training in command execution, weapons operation and coordinated manoeuvres.

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


RTHK
10 hours ago
- RTHK
Vice premier He calls for equal dialogue with US
Vice premier He calls for equal dialogue with US At the London trade talks are, from left, Jamieson Greer, Howard Lutnick, Scott Bessent, He Lifeng, Commerce Minister Wang Wentao, and Chinese International Trade Representative and Vice Minister of Commerce Li Chenggang. Photo: AFP The United States should resolve trade disputes with China through equal dialogue and mutually beneficial cooperation, Vice Premier He Lifeng said. China reiterates that the United States should work with China to honour their words with actions and demonstrate sincerity in keeping commitments and concrete efforts to implement consensus so as to jointly safeguard the hard-won outcomes of dialogue, He said. The vice premier made the remarks during the first meeting of the China-US economic and trade consultation mechanism held in London on Monday and Tuesday with the US delegation led by Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and including Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick and Trade Representative Jamieson Greer. During the talks, the two sides held candid and in-depth talks and thoroughly exchanged views on economic and trade issues of mutual concern. The two sides reached a principled agreement on implementing the important consensus reached by the two heads of state during their phone call on June 5 and the framework of measures to consolidate the outcomes of the economic and trade talks in Geneva, and made new progress in addressing each other's economic and trade concerns. Calling the meeting an important consultation held under the guidance of the strategic consensus reached by the two heads of state on June 5, He said China's position on Sino-US economic and trade issues is clear and consistent. Noting that the essence of Sino-US economic and trade relations lies in mutual benefit and win-win cooperation, he said cooperation in the economic and trade field benefits both sides, while confrontation harms both. There are no winners in trade wars, he said, adding that China does not seek conflict but will not be intimidated by one. The vice premier urged the United States to resolve trade disputes with China through equal dialogue and mutually beneficial cooperation, adding that while China is sincere in pursuing economic and trade consultations, it also has its principles. Next, the two sides should, in accordance with the important consensus and requirements reached by the two heads of state during their phone call, make better use of the China-US economic and trade consultation mechanism and work to enhance their consensus, reduce misunderstandings and strengthen cooperation, He said. The two sides should maintain communication and consultation and promote the steady and sustained growth of Sino-US economic and trade relations so as to inject more certainty and stability into the world economy, He added. The US side said that the meeting had achieved positive outcomes and further stabilized bilateral economic and trade relations, adding that it would walk in the same direction as China in accordance with the requirements of the phone call between the two heads of state to jointly implement the consensus reached at this meeting. (Xinhua)


South China Morning Post
11 hours ago
- South China Morning Post
China's military says Japan ‘breaching pacifist constitution' with long-range missile tests
China's military has accused Japan of undermining regional security after it tested new long-range anti-ship and hypersonic missiles. A commentary published by the military mouthpiece People's Liberation Army Daily on Wednesday said that the extended range of missiles would be 'a real deterrent to multiple surrounding areas'. It also argued that the increased ability to strike long-range targets was 'breaking the restrictions of the pacifist constitution that the Japanese Self-Defence Forces cannot possess offensive weapons'. The constitution was imposed after Japan's defeat in the second world war. The missiles were tested as part of an annual live-fire drill near Mount Fuji on Sunday. The upgraded Type 12 surface-to-ship missiles and hypersonic Hyper Velocity Gliding Projectile (HVGP) will be deployed in Kyushu, the southernmost of Japan's four main islands, while the HVGP may also be stationed in Hokkaido in the north, according to Japanese media reports. PLA Daily said the choice of location, which avoided 'sensitive' segments of the first island chain such as Okinawa , was designed to minimise international criticism of Japan's military expansion. 'In fact, rather than enhancing its defence capabilities, Japan has been leaping toward 'first strike capabilities' in the name of building so-called 'counter strike capabilities',' the article said.


HKFP
13 hours ago
- HKFP
US, China agree on trade ‘framework' after high-level talks in London
Top officials from the United States and China said Tuesday that they had agreed on a 'framework' to move forward on trade, following two days of high-level talks in London to resolve tensions. US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick expressed optimism after a full day of negotiations that concerns surrounding rare earth minerals and magnets 'will be resolved' eventually, as the deal is implemented. But this framework will first need to be approved by leaders in Washington and Beijing, officials said, at the end of meetings at the British capital's historic Lancaster House. All eyes were on the outcomes of negotiations as both sides tried to overcome an impasse over export restrictions. US officials earlier accused Beijing of slow-walking approvals for shipments of rare earths. The world's two biggest economies were also seeking a longer-lasting truce in their escalating tariffs war, with levies currently only temporarily on hold. 'We're moving as quickly as we can,' US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer told reporters. 'We would very much like to find an agreement that makes sense for both countries,' he added, noting that the relationship was complex. 'We feel positive about engaging with the Chinese,' he maintained. Speaking separately to reporters, China International Trade Representative Li Chenggang said: 'Our communication has been very professional, rational, in-depth and candid.' Li expressed hope that progress made in London would help to boost trust on both sides. Productive talks US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent earlier described the closely watched trade talks as productive, although scheduling conflicts prompted his departure from London with negotiations still ongoing. Bessent, who led the US delegation with Lutnick and Greer, left early to return to Washington for testimony before Congress, a US official told AFP. Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng headed his country's team in London, which included Li and Commerce Minister Wang Wentao. Both sides do not yet have another gathering scheduled. But Lutnick said Tuesday that US measures imposed when rare earths 'were not coming' would likely be relaxed once Beijing moved forward with more license approvals. Global stock markets were on edge, but Wall Street's major indexes climbed on hopes for progress earlier Tuesday. The London negotiations follow talks in Geneva last month, which saw a temporary agreement to lower tariffs. This time, China's exports of rare earth minerals — used in a range of things including smartphones, electric vehicle batteries and green technology — were a key issue on the agenda. 'In Geneva, we had agreed to lower tariffs on them, and they had agreed to release the magnets and rare earths that we need throughout the economy,' US President Donald Trump's top economic adviser, Kevin Hassett, told CNBC on Monday. Even though Beijing was releasing some supplies, 'it was going a lot slower than some companies believed was optimal', he added. 'Mirror arsenal' Both countries 'have developed almost a mirror arsenal of trade and investment weapons that they can aim at each other,' said Emily Benson, head of strategy at Minerva Technology Futures. As they tap economic tools to try and shift global power structures, she told AFP, it may not be reasonable to expect a typical trade and investment deal. But both sides could find ways to level off a downward spiral. A dialing-down of temperatures could involve Chinese efforts to shore up the process for granting export control licenses, Benson said. She noted Beijing appeared understaffed given the volume of requests. On the US side, this could look like a relaxation of certain export curbs in the high-tech domain, she added. But observers remained cautious, with Thomas Mathews of Capital Economics warning that Washington was unlikely to 'back off completely.' This could weigh on markets. Since returning to office, Trump has slapped a 10 percent levy on friend and foe, threatening steeper rates on dozens of economies. His tariffs have dented trade, with Beijing data showing Chinese exports to the United States plunged in May. The World Bank on Tuesday joined other international organizations to slash its 2025 global growth forecast amid trade uncertainty. China is also in talks with partners including Japan and South Korea to try to build a united front countering Trump's tariffs.