Podcast

PLA set to hold sea exercise

Updated: 2010-06-29 13:36

 

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The People's Liberation Army (PLA) will launch a six-day, live ammunition drill starting on Wednesday in the East China Sea, a move that analysts said is in response to a joint exercise between the United States and Republic of Korea (ROK) navies in the Yellow Sea.

The PLA decision was issued on June 24 and posted on major Chinese websites on Monday, when the US-ROK drill was scheduled to start. The US and ROK earlier cited the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) as the target of their drill. A US nuclear-powered aircraft carrier is also reportedly scheduled to participate in the exercise not far off China's coast.

But the ROK navy announced on Monday that their joint maneuver has been postponed to July.

According to the PLA announcement, all vessels will be prohibited from entering its designated area from midnight to 6 pm, from June 30 to July 5.

"They must follow orders of the Chinese navy to ensure safety," it said.

An officer of the Ministry of Defense said on Monday that the PLA's planned drill is routine. But the Hong Kong-based Mingpao Daily News called the announcement a "rare move" to publicize a military drill days in advance.

Some analysts said the move is clearly related to the presence of aircraft carrier USS George Washington near China's shores, which put major cities including Beijing and China's coastlines under the US carrier's combat scope.

Foreign Ministry spokesman Qin Gang said earlier this month that Beijing is seriously concerned about the US-ROK joint exercise and is closely following the matter.

Questions:

1. How many days will the drill last?

2. When was the PLA decision issued?

3. What is the name of the US aircraft carrier near China’s shores?

Answers:

1. Six days.

2. June 24.

3. USS George Washington.

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（中國日報網(wǎng)英語點津 Helen 編輯）

About the broadcaster:

Lee Hannon is Chief Editor at China Daily with 15-years experience in print and broadcast journalism. Born in England, Lee has traveled extensively around the world as a journalist including four years as a senior editor in Los Angeles. He now lives in Beijing and is happy to move to China and join the China Daily team.