The Chinese Navy held live-fire drills in the East China Sea on Monday, the Defense Ministry said in a short statement posted to its website.

The drills, the statement said, involved firing dozens of missiles and torpedoes and was aimed at bolstering "the assault intensity, precision, stability and speed of troops amid heavy electromagnetic influences," an apparent reference to electronic warfare.

"An information technology-based war at sea is sudden, cruel and short, which requires fast transition to combat status, quick preparation and high assault efficiency," the statement said.