China's Carrier Strike Groups Conclude Training Exercises in Western Pacific

The People's Liberation Army Navy has announced that its two carrier strike groups have completed a series of training missions in the Western Pacific and returned home. These operations, led by the aircraft carriers CNS Liaoning and CNS Shandong, focused on conducting realistic combat training and involved collaboration with various branches of the PLA, simulating mock battles.

During the exercises, personnel conducted a range of military maneuvers, including early-warning actions, reconnaissance efforts, air and missile defense operations, and assaults on maritime targets. The drills enabled the strike groups to refine their tactical approaches and enhance the skills of their crews, ultimately leading to improved combat readiness for both flotillas.

Throughout the training period, the Chinese strike groups encountered foreign warships and aircraft that engaged in close reconnaissance missions. The Navy reported that the groups maintained high readiness levels to counter potential threats, deploying carrier-based fighters to secure their operation areas and managing multiple scenarios with professionalism.

This training exercise marks the second joint operation of China's carrier strike groups, with the previous exercise occurring in October in the South China Sea. Senior Captain Wang Xuemeng emphasized that these operations were part of the Navy's regular training schedule and were designed to strengthen the units' capabilities in accordance with international law, asserting that they were not directed against any specific nation.

Currently, the Chinese Navy boasts two active aircraft carriers, with both CNS Liaoning and CNS Shandong weighing around 50,000 metric tons and operating a conventional propulsion system along with a ski jump for launching J-15 fighter jets. Additionally, the construction of a third aircraft carrier, the CNS Fujian, is underway, which is recognized as the largest aircraft carrier in Asia and the largest non-American carrier worldwide.