The People’s Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF) sent long-range bombers, fighter jets, and electronic intelligence aircraft to fly around Taiwan Island during a military drill.

The Ministry of National Defence of the People’s Republic of China has released pictures of patrol exercise conducted at the Bashi Channel and Miyako Strait.  The Chinese Su-30, J-11 fighter jets and Xian H-6K long-range bombers, according to the Ministry, taken part in a regular patrol exercise on Dec. 11, 2017.

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A Chinese air force formation conducted a regular patrol exercise that passed the Bashi Channel and Miyako Strait on Monday, an air force spokesperson confirmed Tuesday. The formation consisted of H-6K bombers, Su-30 and J-11 fighters, reconnaissance aircraft, early warning aircraft and tanker aircraft, said Shen Jinke, spokesman for the Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) Air Force.

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The Bashi Channel which connects the South China Sea with the Pacific Ocean, and the other is the Miyako Strait in Japan’s south, according to Shen Jinke, the spokesperson of China Air Force.

The Chinese air force has in recent months carried out a series of exercises around Taiwan, South China Sea and East China Sea as they hone their ability to operate far from their home shores.