In an unprecedented show of strength, the Chinese aircraft carriers Liaoning and Shandong have been conducting exercises in the western Pacific Ocean beyond the second island chain.
The People’s Liberation Army’s Navy said on Tuesday it had deployed two carrier groups in the Western Pacific and surrounding waters and conducted exercises to test their “far-sea defences and joint operational capabilities”.
“It is a routine training exercise organised according to the annual plan, aiming to continuously strengthen mission fulfillment capabilities. It complies with relevant international laws and practices and is not targeted at any specific country or objective,” Wang Xuemeng, senior captain of PLA Navy, said in a statement.
In a statement on Monday, the Japanese defence ministry said the Shandong strike group was spotted earlier that day, conducting take-off and landing operations of its jet fighters and helicopters about 500km (311 miles) southwest of Iwo Jima and north of Okinotori.
It followed the ministry’s statement on Sunday that the Liaoning group had been located on Saturday 300km (186 miles) southwest of Minamitori Island. It was seen again on Sunday, a little further away. The carrier was also reported to be operating its ship-borne air wings.
