Chinese Liaoning Aircraft Carrier Group Starts Routine, Realistic Combat Training in West Pacific

The Chinese Liberation Army (PLA) Navy announced on Tuesday that the Liaoning aircraft carrier group recently started a routine, realistic combat training mission in the West Pacific.

Japan’s defense ministry said in a statement that eight PLA warships were spotted sailing from the East China Sea through the waters between Okinawa Island and Miyako Island headed toward the Pacific Ocean on Monday.

The carrier group consists of eight warships, namely the Liaoning, the Type 055 large guided missile destroyer Nanchang, the Type 052D guided missile destroyers Xining, Urumqi and Chengdu, the Type 052C guided missile destroyer Zhengzhou, the Type 054A guided missile frigate Xiangtan and the Type 901 comprehensive supply ship Hulunhu.

This carrier group is the largest to head out to far sea among recent voyages, marking a significant combat capability boost in preparation for missions that include a potential military conflict across the Taiwan Straits, experts were quoted as saying by the Global Times.

The exercise is a routine one organized according to the annual schedule and is aimed at boosting the Navy's capabilities to carry out its duties, Senior Captain Gao Xiucheng, a spokesperson of the PLA Navy, said in a statement. He added that the voyage is in line with related international law and practice and is not targeted at another party.

A number of J-15 carrier-based fighter jets as well as Z-8 and Z-9 helicopters could be seen standing by on the flight deck of the Liaoning.

According to official PLA media outlets, the Liaoning has had some maritime exercises earlier this year, and this should be the first time it has been across the first island chain and sailed into the West Pacific in 2022, following the aircraft carrier's last far sea voyage in December last year, observers said.

This also marks the largest Liaoning aircraft carrier group in recent voyages. In December's voyage, the group reportedly featured at least six vessels - the Liaoning, a Type 055, a Type 052D, two Type 054As and a Type 901. In another far sea exercise in April 2021, the carrier group also consisted of some six warships - the Liaoning, a Type 055, two Type 052Ds, a Type 054A and a Type 901. Back in 2016 when the Liaoning first had a far sea training in the West Pacific, it had three destroyers, three frigates and a supply ship as escorts.

Based on previous voyages, after sailing through the Miyako Strait, the Chinese vessels could go further east into the Pacific Ocean, or they could transit through the Bashi Channel south to the island of Taiwan and conduct exercises in the South China Sea, a Chinese expert predicted.

The quality and quantity of warships featured in the carrier group - including a whopping five "Chinese Aegis" destroyers - are very impressive and reflect the rapid growth of the PLA Navy, the expert said.

“It is possible that the carrier group is also accompanied by underwater forces,” Song Zhongping, a Chinese military expert and TV commentator, told the Global Times.

All far sea exercises are part of preparations for actual combat, and it is certain that aircraft carriers will take part in preparations for a potential military conflict across the Taiwan Straits, Song stated further.