ASYMMETRIC DIALOGUE

Chinese bombers and spy planes have flown around Taiwan, the air force said Thursday as Taipei accused Beijing of trying to stoke regional tensions with its military drills. China sees the democratically-governed island as a renegade part of its territory to be brought back into the fold and has not ruled out reunification by force. H-6K bombers, Su-30 and J-11 fighters and reconnaissance aircraft took part in a patrol around Taiwan, air force spokesman Shen Jinke told the official Xinhua news agency. Taiwan Affairs Office spokesman Ma Xiaoguang said the exercise served as a warning against those pushing for Taiwanese independence. Taiwan's defence ministry said Thursday multiple Chinese aircraft including bombers and reconnaissance planes were spotted on Wednesday afternoon flying over Miyako Strait -- near Japan's southern Okinawa island -- into the western Pacific before returning to their base via Bashi Channel off southern Taiwan. "China has

PLA Army Aviation inducts two Z-18A medium transport helicopters into service

China Defense Blog: PLA Army Aviation inducts two Z-18A medium transport helicopters into service. : "The Z-18 medium transport helicopter has been in service with the PLA Naval Aviation on-board of the aircraft carrier Liaoning, it has become the go-to helicopter platform for specialized missions ranging from airborne early warning (AEW), VIP transport, to anti-submarine warfare (ASW) since. After four years of extensive testing, the PLA Army Aviation (PLAAV or PLALH in Chinese) finally inducts her own Z-18A - army transport variant - into the 161st Air-Assault Brigade today. " Read More 'via Blog this'