China’s aircraft carrier expected to make four-day visit to Hong Kong for handover celebrations
Details of where the Liaoning will berth to allow most people to see it have yet to be finalised
A flotilla led by the PLA’s first aircraft carrier Liaoning is expected to make a four-day call in Hong Kong after undergoing almost two weeks of training in other waters, sources close to the military told the South China Morning Post.
Analysts said the flotilla was likely to pass through the Taiwan Strait, though it was not certain whether that would be on the journey out to its exercise waters or on its return.
A source close to the PLA told the Post that the flotilla was scheduled to visit Hong Kong on July 7, and likely to leave on July 11.
“It will be a full four-day visit to Hong Kong, but it’s not clear whether the flotilla will go home or continue training after leaving,” the source said.
Xinhua said earlier that the Liaoning left its home base in Qingdao on Sunday for a routine training mission in the company of two destroyers and a frigate.
Beijing-based military expert Li Jie said one or two nuclear-powered attack submarines were likely to join the flotilla when it passed the navy’s submarine base in Hainan in the coming days, making it a complete carrier fighting group.