China's air force has again flown heavy bombers for a "combat air patrol" over the contested South China sea, part of what it calls "routine" flights in the strategic waterway.
A team of H-6K bombers from the People's Liberation Army Air Force conducted the drills in recent days and completed the exercises Thursday, the official Xinhua News Agency quoted spokesman Shen Jinke as saying.
Shen said the South China Sea exercises were intended to "improve maritime real combat capabilities and forge the forces' battle methods."