In a show of military might, the Chinese Air Force would soon start flying regularly into the Western Pacific beyond Japan and Taiwan, according to People's Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF) spokesman Shen Jinke.

Shen, on Friday, said that starting next month, the air force will fly beyond the so-called "First Island Chain,' an imaginary line stretching from Japan and Taiwan.

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The Chinese air force had found it difficult to fly the route in the past and had limited experience in venturing beyond given its obsolete military aircraft.

Regular flights

Military analysts said the regular flights are an important milestone for the Chinese military in Beijing's efforts to assert its presence in the region and push its claims over the disputed territories in the East China and South China Seas.

With a better-equipped and better-trained air force, China can now defend its territorial claims in the waters west of the First Island Chain.

Shen said that with China's new, sophisticated military equipment and trained pilots, the Pacific waters is now within reach of China.

He said Beijing now has bombers, long-range fighters, control aircraft, and aerial refueling tankers in its military arsenal to aid the country's air force in conducting the Pacific trips.

Military aerial exercises

The PLAAF recently conducted an aerial military exercise in the Bashi Strait near Taiwan involving Xian H-6K bombers, Su-30 fighters, and aerial refueling tankers.

China claims that the exercise was not aimed at any country and was conducted within international laws.

"This is common practice for the air forces of sea-adjacent states and a normal requirement for China's national defense and military building," the spokesman said.

Key island chains

Military observers say China's military buildup has now made it easier for Chinese air force to fly over key island chains in the South China Sea and the East China Sea.

Vietnam, Taiwan, and the Philippines have competing claims with China in the Spratly and Paracel islands in the disputed South China Sea while Japan has rival claims with Beijing over the Senkaku Islands ( Diaoyu Islands in China) in the East China Sea.

Analysts have warned that China's flights over these island chains could escalate tensions with claimant countries and possibly trigger a military confrontation. 

TagsPeople's Liberation Army Air Force, First Island Chain, Western Pacific, East China Sea, South China Sea