Chinese Fighter Bombers Practice Implementing A Maritime Mine Blockade Around Taiwan

USA World

Two JH-7 fighter bombers attached to a naval aviation brigade under the PLA Northern Theater Command taxi on the flightline where the snow blanket has been cleared during a flight training exercise in early January, 2021. (eng.chinamil.com.cn/Photo by Duan Yanbing)  

Global Times: PLA fighter bombers practice maritime mine blockade 

Fighter bombers of the Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) Navy Aviation Forces recently held training exercises to practice setting up maritime blockades by airdropping sea mines, a tactic that can effectively deter and slow hostile warships, analysts said on Monday. 

The Navy Aviation Forces of the PLA Northern Theater Command organized a series of exercises above an undisclosed sea area in the Bohai Sea featuring JH-7 fighter bombers, China Central Television (CCTV) reported on Sunday. 

In the drills, several JH-7 fighter bombers flew and maneuvered at a sea-skimming altitude to avoid detection by radars, penetrated hostile air defenses and dropped sea mines in the designated areas, before their returning to base for resupply of munitions and fuel, the report said.  

Read more ….  

WNU Editor: The above Global Times article bluntly says who the target in this practice will be …. 

…. This tactic would come in handy in a possible scenario where foreign forces intervene in the Taiwan question. By temporarily blocking the reinforcing warships from countries like the US, using rapidly deployed sea mines far from the main battlefield, the PLA will gain vital opportunities and time to land amphibious assault troops on the island, analysts said.