China deploys warship for combat drills in Western Pacific

On 2026-04-19, the PLA Eastern Theater Command said a naval task group led by the destroyer Baotou would sail through the Bashi Channel into the Western Pacific for combat drills. The exercise was described as routine training intended to test long-range combat capabilities and not directed at any specific country or target. The reported movement took place in the Bashi Channel area between Taiwan and the Philippines.