Alert issued for PLA drills in the South China Sea

China will conduct military training from Tuesday to Thursday in the waters of the South China Sea, according to a navigation alert issued on Monday.

According to the website of China's Maritime Safety Administration, military activities will be conducted in designated waters, and entry of vessels will be prohibited.

The navigation alert issued four coordinates to define the designated area, which is close to Hainan Island.

On July 3, the Hainan Maritime Safety Administration issued a navigation alert, saying that the People's Liberation Army would embark on military exercises in a designated area in the South China Sea from July 5 to July 11.

On July 8, senior Chinese Navy officials attended a naval drill at designated waters near China's Xisha Islands, Xinhua news agency reported.

Also, the Honghu and Luomahu - two supply ships serving long-range missions - officially joined the service in Zhanjiang, Guangdong province on July 15, said the official website of the PLA's Southern Theater Command, which covers the South China Sea.