China's 'H-6' Equipped with YJ-12 Supersonic Air-to-Ship Missiles Conducts Training in the Pacific
Training Targeting US Aircraft Carrier... Military Warning to the US and Taiwan
[Asia Economy Beijing=Special Correspondent Jo Young-shin] Ahead of U.S. President Joe Biden's East Asia tour, the Chinese People's Liberation Army deployed strategic bombers over the Pacific Ocean. Currently, the Chinese aircraft carrier Liaoning is conducting training exercises with destroyers near the eastern waters of Taiwan.
The Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs has strongly opposed Biden's visits to South Korea and Japan, labeling them as provocative trips aimed at containing China. China's strategic bomber training over the Pacific is interpreted as a Taiwan defense drill and a warning targeting the United States and Japan.
The state-run Global Times reported on the 20th that the Chinese military dispatched two 'Hong (轟ㆍH)-6' strategic bombers to conduct training alongside the Liaoning carrier operating near the Pacific and South China Sea. The media stated that two H-6J strategic bombers, which took off from the East China Sea, flew between Okinawa Island and the Miyako Strait to enter the Pacific for flight training.
The outlet cited photos released by the Japanese Ministry of Defense, explaining that the H-6 bombers deployed this time were equipped with 'YJ-12' supersonic anti-ship missiles. These missiles are known to have the capability to strike an entire aircraft carrier strike group from 300 to 400 km away at speeds ranging from Mach 2 to 4. This training appears to openly reveal that it was aimed at U.S. aircraft carrier strike groups.
Song Zhongping, a Chinese military expert, stated, "The H-6J bombers can strike enemy warships such as aircraft carriers from the location where they conducted flight training," adding, "If multiple H-6J bombers launch several YJ-12 supersonic anti-ship missiles, the enemy fleet will not be able to defend against China's attack."
The Global Times analyzed that the two strategic bombers conducted joint exercises with the Liaoning carrier fleet, which has been training since early this month. The Liaoning is conducting carrier-based aircraft takeoff and landing training in the South China Sea and the Pacific alongside eight escort ships, including Type 055 destroyers, the media added.
The Global Times further noted that a bilateral summit confirming strengthened cooperation between the U.S. and Japan on the Taiwan issue is scheduled, interpreting this training as a strong warning not only to the U.S. and Japan but also to Taiwan separatists.
The media reported that on the 19th, Yang Jiechi, a member of the Chinese Communist Party Politburo, warned Jake Sullivan, U.S. National Security Advisor, during a phone call that "if the U.S. uses Taiwan to contain China, China will take resolute measures to safeguard its sovereignty, security, and core interests."
It also added that on the same day, Wang Yi, Chinese Foreign Minister, warned Japanese Foreign Minister Hayashi Yoshimasa during a phone call to "learn from history and act cautiously going forward."
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