China to improve combat abilities

Beijing says its People's Liberation Army will conduct 40 military drills in 2013, to improve its combat abilities and protect China's security interests.

According to a statement from the PLA General Staff Headquarters on Tuesday, the exercises aim to help soldiers, quote "fully prepare themselves for war."

The new training gives greater focus to air and land combat...

Including live-ammunition confrontations on the open sea and aerial defense.

The drills come after multiple confrontations with Japan in recent months,over islands in the East China sea.