Chinese marines participate in helicopter flight operations training during the Rim of the Pacific 2016 exercises on July 18. A handful of the Chinese vessels continued to carry out drills in the Sea of Japan. Photo by Zhang Lisong/PLA Navy/U.S. Navy/UPI | License Photo

TOKYO, Aug. 19 (UPI) -- The Chinese navy carried out drills in the Sea of Japan, days after Japan's coast guard released a video of Chinese vessels near disputed islands.

The state-owned People's Liberation Army Daily reported the exercises took place in a "certain area of the Sea of Japan" but did not give a specific location, according to The Japan Times.


"The precision strike against 'enemy' maritime strength jointly launched by warships and naval aviation force...was highlighted in the confrontation drill," the report read.

The report stated naval exercises are "common among the world's navies" and are "part of annual training arrangements...not aimed at any specific country, region or target."

A handful of the vessels were returning from RIMPAC, the U.S.-hosted Rim of the Pacific exercise that took place in Hawaii.

The drills come after an event on Aug. 1, when the Chinese navy performed live-fire exercises in the East China Sea.

The most recent naval exercises took place a day before top Chinese and Japanese officials met in Beijing, according to Xinhua.

Yu Zhengsheng, chairman of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, told veteran Japanese politician Takeo Kawamura China places great importance to its ties with Japan.

Yu said relations should be promoted on the foundation of four political documents that could take "history as a mirror and look toward the future."