Photo of a video capture shows Su-35 fighter jets are on patrol. China has recently sent Su-35 fighter jets for a joint combat patrol mission in the South China Sea area, according to the People's Liberation Army (PLA) air force on Feb. 7, 2018. (Photo/Xinhua)
The patrol mission is an annual training of combat readiness, embodying the air force's resolution to implement mission in the new era and firmly maintain national sovereignty and security and maritime interests, Wang said in an interview with Xinhua.
The air force will further increase real combat training on the sea and enhance the real combat capability especially under long-distance and high-sea conditions, he said.
Wang said that the air force will often carry out patrol missions and normalize the patrol in the South China Sea area.
On Friday, the air force also announced that China's latest J-20 stealth fighters have been commissioned into air force combat service.
The J-20 signals that China's air force has greatly increased its ability to deal with new security threats in airspace, and made steady progress in the aero equipment system, Wang said.
The stealth jets will enable the air force to improve ability to tackle conventional threat and enhance real combat capacity, he added.
