CCTV News: On the afternoon of May 8, Colonel Zhang Xiaogang, spokesperson of the Ministry of National Defense, released a message on recent military issues.
Reporter: It is reported that during the "shoulder side by side" military exercises between the Philippines and the United States, China's Shandong aircraft carrier appeared in the northern waters of the Philippines. Some analysts believe that this may be a response to the Philippines-US military exercises, or a response to the Philippine patrol ship entering the waters of Huangyan Island. In addition, a Philippine Navy spokesman claimed that the Philippine military and Taiwan are currently only one step away from the joint exercise. What is your comment on this?
Zhang Xiaogang: The Shandong aircraft carrier formation performs annual training tasks in relevant waters to further test and improve the combat capabilities of the aircraft carrier formation system, which is in line with international law and international practices, and is not targeted at specific countries and goals.
Some people in the Philippines "rely on the outside world to make trouble" for their own selfish interests, so as to win over the United States and other foreign forces to boost their courage, undermine peace and stability in the South China Sea, and try to make trouble on the Taiwan issue. We warn the Philippines to stop infringement and provocation and stop ramming China's core interests in any way. China continues to take resolute and effective measures to defend national territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests.
