China's Hong Kong garrison fires torpedoes in South China Sea military drill

The People's Liberation Army Hong Kong Garrison holding a flag-raising ceremony, in a picture released on Aug 1, 2020. PHOTO: REUTERS

HONG KONG (BLOOMBERG) - The Chinese army has released footage of its Hong Kong garrison firing cannons and torpedoes in a drill in the South China Sea amid rising tensions between Beijing and Washington over the status of the former British colony.

The People's Liberation Army recently tested the weaponry, including a torpedo launch from the vessel Huizhou that successfully hit its target, according to a Weibo post by CCTV on Sunday (Aug 16).

The exercise follows the deployment by the US Navy of a carrier strike group to the area to conduct maritime air-defence operations.

The PLA's one and a half minute video captures the army's reaction to an order to attack an enemy submarine. The exercise also included helicopter operations, anti-terrorism and anti-piracy drills, and emergency rescue training, according to the Weibo post.

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