China's air force said Saturday that its warplanes had conducted long-range drills over the Bashi Channel and the Miyako Strait "several times" over the past week, just a day after the country's Defense Ministry told Japan that it should "get used to" the military exercises.

"China's air force over the past week conducted multiple drills far out at sea, with H-6K bombers and many other types of aircraft flying through the Bashi Channel and Miyako Strait, testing actual battle capabilities over the sea," air force spokesman Shen Jinke was quoted as saying by the state-run CGTN website.

Shen said the drills were carried out as part of the air force's yearly training plan, stressing that they complied with international law and were not aimed "at any specific country, region or target."