Chinese aircraft carrier’s Pacific drills ‘show boosted combat capability’

Name: China and Russia conduct joint naval drills in Sea of Japan
Uploaded: 2021-12-22T10:02:31.000Z
Duration: 1 min 29 s
Description: China and Russia conduct joint naval drills in Sea of Japan

Photos from Japanese defence ministry show fighter jets and helicopters on the Liaoning as it sails with five other naval ships

Greater range of aircraft on board shows a complete formation combat system has been formed, commentator says

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The Liaoning aircraft carrier was photographed conducting drills east of Okinawa. Photo: Handout

Teddy Ng

Published: 6:02pm, 22 Dec 2021Updated: 6:29pm, 22 Dec 2021

China’s first aircraft carrier, the Liaoning, has conducted drills east of Okinawa involving fighter jet and helicopter operations after entering the Pacific Ocean, indicating increased combat capability, an observer said.

Six Chinese naval ships – the Liaoning, a Type 055 destroyer, a Type 052D destroyer, two Type 054A frigates and a Type 901 supply ship – sailed in waters about 300km (186 miles) east of Kitadaitojima in Okinawa on Sunday, Japan’s defence ministry said.

Photographs released by the ministry showed that J-15 fighter jets and Z-9 and Z-18 helicopters were on board the Liaoning, and one photo showed a J-15 taking off from the carrier.

Japan sent its Izumo destroyer and fighter jets to monitor the Chinese fleet.

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China and Russia conduct joint naval drills in Sea of Japan

The Liaoning last week sailed through the Pacific Ocean for a high seas training exercise.