East China Sea U.S.–China Military Exercises

[Bilingual] Far-Seas Training Conducted by PLAN Task Group Is a Routine Activity within the PLAN's Annual Plan

【双语】中国海军舰艇编队远海训练活动是年度例行安排

PLA Daily (解放军报) 9 July 2026

Summary

MND spokesperson Senior Colonel Chen Xi confirmed on July 9 that a PLAN task group of approximately 10 vessels has been conducting far-seas training (远海训练) in waters surrounding Japan, characterizing it as a planned annual activity consistent with international law and not directed at any specific country. The statement is a formulaic denial of operational intent, but the scale — roughly 10 vessels operating intensively in Japanese-adjacent waters — documents a deployment that Japan's Ministry of Defense flagged as notable enough to warrant multiple consecutive public announcements. The gap between Beijing's 'routine annual plan' framing and Tokyo's repeated official notifications raises the question of whether this task group's activity, in timing or composition, departs from prior far-seas training patterns in ways the Chinese statement is designed to preempt.

Translation

Far-seas Training Conducted by the PLAN Task Group Is a Routine Activity within the PLAN's Annual Plan

On the afternoon of July 9, Senior Colonel Chen Xi, spokesperson for the Ministry of National Defense, released information on recent military-related issues.

Reporter: Japan's Ministry of Defense recently issued several consecutive announcements indicating that the Chinese Navy has dispatched approximately 10 vessels to conduct intensive activities in waters surrounding Japan. Some analysts believe that Chinese naval vessels are transiting through sea lanes around Japan into the Western Pacific to demonstrate operational capabilities to the outside world, and that this is also a response to the multiple recent maritime joint exercises conducted by the United States, Japan, and other countries. Do you have any comment on this?

Question: Japan's Ministry of Defense recently issued several announcements, claiming that approximately 10 PLA Navy (PLAN) vessels have been operating intensively in waters near Japan. Some analysts believe that the Chinese vessels transit through shipping lanes around Japan to the Western Pacific, with the aim of demonstrating operational capabilities and responding to recent multinational maritime joint exercises involving the U.S., Japan and other countries. Do you have any comment on that?

Chen Xi: The PLAN has sent its task group to conduct far-seas training (远海训练) in relevant waters. It is a routine activity within the PLAN's annual plan. The training is consistent with international law and customary international practice and does not target any specific country or target. It aims to further enhance the capabilities of our troops in safeguarding national sovereignty, security, and development interests.

Chen Xi: The PLAN has sent its task group to conduct far-seas training in relevant waters. It is a routine activity within the PLAN's annual plan. The training is consistent with international law and customary international practice and does not target any specific country or target. It aims to further enhance the capabilities of our troops in safeguarding national sovereignty, security and development interests.

Original Chinese

Far-seas Training Conducted by the PLAN Task Group Is a Routine Activity within the PLAN's Annual Plan 7月9日下午，国防部新闻发言人陈曦大校就近期涉军问题发布消息。记者：日本防卫省近期连续发布多则公告，显示中国海军派出约10艘舰艇在日本周边海域密集活动。有分析认为，中国海军舰艇经日本周边航道进出西太平洋，向外界展示作战能力，也是对近期美日等国多场海上联演的回应。请问对此有何评论？ Question:Japan's Ministry of Defense recently issued several announcements, claiming that approximately 10 PLA Navy (PLAN) vessels have been operating intensively in waters near Japan. Some analysts believe that the Chinese vessels transit through shipping lanes around Japan to the Western Pacific, with the aim of demonstrating operational capabilities and responding to recent multinational maritime joint exercises involving the U.S., Japan and other countries. Do you have any comment on that? 陈曦：中国海军舰艇编队赴相关海域开展远海训练活动，是年度例行安排，符合国际法和国际惯例，不针对任何特定国家和目标，旨在持续提升维护国家主权、安全、发展利益的能力。 Chen Xi:The PLAN has sent its task group to conduct far-seas training in relevant waters. It is a routine activity within the PLAN's annual plan. The training is consistent with international law and customary international practice and does not target any specific country or target. It aims to further enhance the capabilities of our troops in safeguarding national sovereignty, security and development interests.