Chinese naval aircraft joined a naval fleet for a military drill in the western Pacific Ocean east of the Bashi Channel on Wednesday, a military spokesperson of the People's Liberation Army (PLA) Navy said.

Chinese navy spokesperson Liang Yang said the ships and aircraft carried out several exercises that imitated real combat conditions in waters east of the Bashi Channel, south of Taiwan.

The spokesperson stressed that the drill was a routine exercise scheduled as part of the navy's annual training plans and was "in line with international laws and practices."

"The drill is not directed at any specific country, regions or targets," Liang said, adding it also did not affect the freedom of navigation or flight in the related airspace and waters.

Liang said similar drills would be conducted in the future.