China's PLA aims strong signals at multiple audiences with late summer exercises
The People's Liberation Army has held several major and well-publicized maneuvers since mid-July.
The frequency and complex nature of the drills have illustrated well the principal message delivered by Defense Minister General Liang Guanglie on Army Day on Aug. 1: That even during peace time, “the PLA will never waver from its priority task of preparing for military struggle.”
Two war games late last month merit special attention. The Yellow Sea maneuvers that started on July 25, which involved artillery and Air Force units of the Nanjing Military Region, were meant as a warning to the United States.