that involved, among other activities, reconnaissance, ‘‘mine laying by fishing
boats,’’ and non-pier and at-sea supply of naval vessels in battle.^190 Another
report details the equipment requirements (e.g., cranes) for loading mines at
remote ports. Such precautions assume that wharves at major naval bases will
be destroyed by enemy PGM strikes in wartime, requiring MIW forces to work
around battle damage.^191 This training imperative is described in multiple pub-
lications as a ‘‘non-wharf’’ exercise.
PLANAF
Since 2002, PLANAF training has been increasingly rigorous, with exercises
involving extended duration, increasingly unfamiliar conditions, and on-the-
spot decision-making:
pilots fly more long-distance, over-water, cross-border missions during the day
and night. Many of the flights are at minimum altitude (i.e., below 100 meters) or low
altitude (above 100 meters) and in poor weather conditions. Vessels with helicopters
have focused on helicopter operations during day and night that are gradually moving
further from the vessel.^192AnSSFexerciseinAugust2002exemplifiedtheprogressoftheairforcein
such missions. Aircrews dropped mines from bombers in an unfamiliar location
under ‘‘realistic’’ conditions, while opposed by simulated adversary forces. The
exercise involved a combat aircraft group consisting of three bomber groups, an
electronic-jamming aircraft, and escort fighters. The electronic-jamming aircraft
jammed the enemy’s radar, while the combat-aircraft group employed minimum-
altitude tactics, quickly dispensing several tens of mines and torpedoes.^193
Another source, probably reporting on the same exercise, relates how adversary
‘‘red force’’ bombers laying mines in the SCS were intercepted and attacked by
Chinese ‘‘blue force’’ fighters.^194 During the Sino-Russian ‘‘Peace Mission
2005’’ exercise, Chinese Su-27 and J-11 fighters reportedly escorted naval units,
J-8II fighters performed intercepts, and H-6 bombers dropped precision-
guided weapons. In the process, the arguably more advanced PLAAF likely
gleaned insight into the Russian Air Force’s sophisticated air-combat doctrine,
tactics, and techniques for long-range strike.^195
Despite recent efforts, it remains unclear how proficient China’s different
services are at joint warfare, particularly in an over-water environment. While
the educational requirements for PLANAF pilots, which already exceeded those
for most other PLAN forces, were granted bachelor’s-degree status in 2001, naval
aviation has traditionally been poorly funded. PLAN pilots fly only a fraction of
the hours that their peers in the United States, Japan, and even India do on an
annual basis: ‘‘it appears that Naval Aviation combat aircraft pilots average
around 125 hours. Furthermore, most units normally fly only three days per
Can China Become a Maritime Power? 99