CHINA is closing off a part of the South China Sea for three-day military exercises that start today, the government said yesterday.

    China’s Maritime Safety Administration has released a notice on its website, announcing the closing-off of waters south of Hainan Province and near the Xisha Islands from today to Thursday. It gave no details about the nature of the exercises.

    Also yesterday, the People’s Liberation Army Air Force said it conducted a combat air patrol in the South China Sea recently, which will become a “regular” practice in the future.

    The PLA sent H-6K bombers and other aircraft, including fighters, scouts and tankers, to patrol islands and reefs including Huangyan Dao, said Shen Jinke, spokesman for the PLA Air Force.

    (SD-Agencies)