The United States sent two long-range bombers into China’s air defence identification zone ­yesterday in an apparent show of force, as the Chinese navy conducted a series of simultaneous massive drills. The B1-B has the biggest payload of any bomber and is a departure from the fighter jets and spy planes the American forces have sent before on missions so close to the Chinese coast. John Bradford, a Senior Fellow specialising in maritime security issues at RSIS said that by holding four exercises at the same time, the Chinese navy was clearly showing its military readiness.