CHINA’S NAVY HOLDS RARE LIVE-FIRE DRILL IN INDIAN OCEAN

China’s navy held a rare live- fire drill in the Indian Ocean to improve its fleet’s performance under real combat circumstances, state media reported. A Chinese naval formation consisting of the destroyer Changchun, guided-missile frigate Jingzhou and supply vessel Chaohu conducted the drill in the waters of the western Indian Ocean.The fleet carried out strikes against “enemy” surface ships and completed transverse replenishment of fuel and drinking water during an exercise that lasted for several days, the report said without disclosing the exact location. The drill was aimed at improving the ships’ performance under real combat circumstances, said Chen Denan, chief of staff of the Chinese fleet. The fleet is on a half-year friendship visit to Asia, Europe, Africa and Oceania and conducted joint exercises with foreign navies from 10 countries since it started its voyage on April 23. Since the standoff with India at Doklam in the Sikkim section, China has been flexing its military muscle by holding several publicized live-fire exercises in Tibet.