PLA conducts joint naval-air exercise around China's Huangyan Dao

Naval and air units of the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) Southern Theater Command conducted a joint training exercise in the waters and airspace around China's Huangyan Dao in the South China Sea on Sunday.

A statement from the command said the exercise is a necessary operation taken in response to the acts taken by certain countries that have undermined regional peace and stability.

The exercises featured combat-oriented drills including reconnaissance and early warning, rapid maneuver, and joint search and rescue, designed to test the troops' air-sea coordination, rapid support, and system-based combat capabilities. Theater Command troops remain on high alert at all times and will resolutely safeguard China's territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests, the statement said.

Once the order was given, the Joint Operations Command Center efficiently directed participating forces, and all units quickly mobilized and converged on the designated air and sea zones.

At a military airbase in southern China, drones with high altitude, high speed, and long-endurance reconnaissance abilities prepared to fly to the airspace around Huangyan Dao. These drones, together with fighter jets from multiple airports, formed an aerial network to execute joint operations with naval vessels stationed in the waters near Huangyan Dao.

Surveillance aircraft, reconnaissance planes, and drones took off successively, while a naval fleet, including the Yulin, Tianmen, and Qinghaihu warships, arrived in the exercise area as scheduled.

"The most important significance of the exercises is to draw a line and set rules for the Philippines. It's meant to make them clearly realize that, in the face of China's legitimate sovereign rights and interests, firm resolve to defend its rights, and strong capabilities, no petty maneuvers or attempts to enlist outside support will ever allow its illegal schemes to succeed," said Zhang Chi, a professor with the National Defense University of the PLA.

PLA conducts joint naval-air exercise around China's Huangyan Dao

Poland is in talks with the United States to establish the first permanent U.S. military base on its territory and is seeking the deployment of around 15,000 American troops.

Polish Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski said on Thursday that Poland is working with the U.S. to set up the base. Warsaw hopes President Donald Trump will honor his commitment to maintain a reassuring military presence in Poland without making Russia feel threatened.

Bloomberg earlier reported that Polish President Karol Nawrocki said he hopes the base can be completed before Trump's term ends in 2029, and that Poland is prepared to name it "Fort Trump."

Trump said on September 17 that "major progress" had been made on establishing a permanent U.S. military base in Poland. He is seeking to shift the burden of defending Europe to other NATO member states.

On September 21, Polish Deputy Defense Minister Stanislaw Wziatek said Poland is seeking the deployment of about 15,000 U.S. troops -- roughly 4,000 to 5,000 stationed at the permanent base and another 10,000 to 11,000 deployed on a rotational basis. The U.S. troop presence in Poland will be expanded in phases, with the target expected to be reached by 2039.

Earlier in September, a U.S. delegation led by Under Secretary of State for Arms Control and International Security Thomas DiNanno visited Poland for talks on potential sites for the permanent U.S. military base.

The United States was also conducting a six-month review of its military presence in Europe, which is expected to be completed by the end of the year.

According to data compiled by the U.S.-based Council on Foreign Relations, tens of thousands of U.S. military personnel are stationed in Germany, Poland, Italy and other European countries.

Poland seeks permanent US base, aims to host 15,000 American troops