China has also been deploying increasing numbers of non-military government ships such as coastguard, marine research and maritime safety vessels in waters around Taiwan. Defence experts believe the missions gather ocean data for submarine warfare and simulate coercive measures that could be used in a blockade.

The U.S. aircraft was a P-8A Poseidon patrol and reconnaissance plane, according to the People’s Liberation Army’s Eastern Theater Command.

Amid continued saber-rattling from Beijing, everyday Chinese are more focused on bread-and-butter issues like the slowing economy, an analyst says.

Large-scale helicopter assault, long-range rockets and sophisticated electronic warfare by naval forces highlighted in evening documentary.