The Chinese Navy has declared a fishing and navigation ban in waters near the East China Sea in order to conduct a five-day series of live ammunition manoeuvers from tomorrow. According to People's Daily Online, all boats are banned from sailing in the maneuvers area, and inspection boats will patrol the area regularly to keep fishing boats from transgressing. A military affairs commentator, Song Xiaojun said the live ammunition maneuvers are part of an annual exercise conducted in the East China Sea, regularly around the same time and in the same area. Song added that this exercises will be the largest in terms of scale compared to previous exercises. Song said that the scale of the event corresponds to China's needs to strengthen its capability in order to better safeguard its sovereignty over the disputed Diaoyu Islands.