The People's Liberation Army (PLA) air force recently conducted a combat air patrol in the South China Sea, a military spokesperson said Thursday.

A team of bombers completed the routine patrol, said spokesman Shen Jinke.

Chinese bombers also conducted training exercises after passing over the Bashi Channel and Miyako Strait. The H-6K bombers took off from an inland airport in North China, according to Shen.

Shen said that after the 19th National Congress of the Communist Party of China, the PLA air force began training with the aim of honing their ability to win a potential war, which shows that those in the military are committed to their obligations in the new era.

The air force started regular high seas training in 2015.

The PLA planes circling the island of Taiwan would become routine during their training, an air force commander told reporters during the 19th CPC National Congress in October. A plane finishes a mission of circling Taiwan when it passes both the Bashi Channel and Miyako Strait, which is also a sign of breaking the "first island chain."

Xinhua - Global Times