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Recent Over-Water Flights Have Several Purposes

• Recent over-water flights have been termed as normal operations and part of the natural development of the Chinese military, but authoritative military commentary suggests that the utility of these flights extends beyond simply training for maritime missions, as they are sometimes also intended to convey strategic signals to relevant countries during times of political tension with China.

The H-6K Strategic Bomber Has a Longer Range Than Its Predecessors

• The H-6K long-range strategic bomber's extended range compared with that of its predecessors enables the PLAAF to fly farther from China, expanding the list of potential targets for the PLA. One specific application of this extended range, which is often unreported in Chinese official statements and state-run media, is the H-6K's strike capabilities against Guam.

Expanding Global Engagement Is Changing the Way the Chinese Services Plan, Deploy, and Fight

• China's rise brings with it numerous imperatives and concerns, including expanded economic engagement in diverse regions, growing political influence and responsibilities, and new challenges to its territorial claims. To cope with these changes, air force training has shifted emphasis toward training for long-distance patrols and long-distance strike missions, to enable the projection of power over both land and maritime domains.