Military exercises are not cause for concern

China has resolved to build a stronger military to meet the needs of safeguarding its land and people, as well as its growing interests overseas. But this legitimate and reasonable choice has incurred unnecessary concerns and even finger pointing from the outside world.

As soon as China's military announced that the People's Liberation Army Air Force had for the first time completed a military drill in the airspace above the west Pacific Ocean on Monday, Japanese media claimed it was a show of China's air power and was directed against neighboring countries. Such an allegation is both groundless and biased.

Drills and training in airspace far offshore are a normal practice for coastal countries seeking to improve the combat capabilities of their air forces.