The People's Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) has deployed its two carrier strike groups to the Western Pacific Ocean for training exercises. This was confirmed by a PLAN spokesman in Beijing on Tuesday afternoon.
Senior Captain Wang Xuemeng stated that the strike groups, led by the CNS Liaoning and CNS Shandong, are conducting training to assess their open-sea defense and joint combat capabilities. He emphasized that these exercises are part of the PLAN's regular annual training schedule.
According to Wang, the training is designed to enhance the units' ability to perform their duties. He also noted that the exercises adhere to international law and are standard practice for other navies, and are not directed at any specific country or objective.
This marks the second instance of both of the PLAN's carrier strike groups participating in the same operation. The first joint combat exercise occurred in October in the South China Sea.
Japan's Ministry of Defense reported earlier on Tuesday that this was the first time two Chinese aircraft carriers have operated in the Pacific simultaneously.
In response to a request for comment on the Japanese ministry's statement, China's Foreign Ministry spokesman, Lin Jian, stated that the activities of Chinese naval vessels in the relevant waters are fully compliant with international law and practice. He added that China maintains a defensive national defense policy and expressed hope that Japan would view the matter objectively and rationally.
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