Their latest long-range aerial patrol of the Western Pacific took aircraft from the People's Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF) over the Bashi Channel separating the Philippines from Taiwan and again past the "First Island Chain."

Described as a "routine combat simulation drill," this patrol on Sept. 12 consisted of Sukhoi Su-30MKK two-seat, long-range strike fighters; Xian H-6K long-range strategic bombers and unidentified aerial refueling tankers, probably Xian H-6Us. The patrol might have consisted of five to eight aircraft.

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The fleet conducted reconnaissance and early warning, sea surface cruising and inflight refueling. The PLAAF said this patrol and the others that preceded them are normal, annual, planned exercises to raise its ability to defend Chinese sovereignty and security.

"This is common practice for the air forces of coastal states, and a normal need for developing China's defense. The Chinese air force will normalize this kind of exercises beyond the 'First Island Chain' according to international laws and regulations," said Shen Jinke, PLAAF spokesperson.

The patrol sent a renewed message China can now pierce the First Island Chain at will.

The First Island Chain refers to the first chain of major archipelagos out from the East Asian continental mainland coast. It consists of the Kuril Islands, the Japanese archipelago, Japan's Ryukyu Islands, Taiwan, northern Philippines and Borneo.

It extends from the Kamchatka Peninsula in Russia in the north to the Malay Peninsula in the south.

China views the First Island Chain as the area it must secure so it can disable U.S. bases in the Philippines, U.S. aircraft and U.S. Navy aircraft carrier groups.

Securing the First Island Chain will allow China to launch a pre-emptive attack against the Americans. China's First Island Chain Doctrine aims to seal off the Yellow Sea, the South China Sea and East China Sea inside an arc running from the Aleutians in the north to Borneo in the south.

The stormy and wind lashed Bashi Channel is a waterway between Y'Ami Island, the northenmost Philippine island, and Orchid Island, Taiwan's southernmost island. It's a part of the Luzon Strait in the Pacific Ocean.

The Bashi Channel is also an important passage for military operations. Both Taiwan and the Philippines dispute the ownership of the waters because it lies within each of their 200 nautical mile exclusive economic zone.

The PLAAF said it will organize regular patrols that fly past the First Island Chain.

TagsPeople's Liberation Army Air Force, PLAAF, Bashi Channel, First Island Chain, Sukhoi Su-30MKK, Xian H-6K long-range strategic bombers