The People's Liberation Army is engaged in three combat exercises, which are not targeted at any third party, Senior Colonel Wu Qian, a spokesman for the Defense Ministry, said at a news conference in Beijing on Thursday afternoon.

He said the exercises are taking place in the air and waters of the Bohai Sea, on the Nansha Islands and their surrounding waters, and in the air and waters of the Xisha Islands.

Wu said the exercises are part of the PLA's annual training plan.

Announcements from maritime safety authorities showed the live-fire exercise in the Bohai Sea began on Monday and will continue through Sunday. The two exercises in the South China Sea began on Monday and will end on Saturday.

The PLA Navy concluded a large-scale, live-ammunition exercise in the Yellow Sea on Wednesday.

Chinese military experts have said recent exercises are intended to respond to provocations and improve the PLA's combat capabilities, adding that the past month has seen more exercises conducted by the PLA than any month in many years.