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Chinese Shandong carrier strike group heads to South China Sea after week of drills near Japan
- The aircraft carrier was accompanied by at least nine vessels on its third training run in the western Pacific this year
- Exercise comes as Japan and the Philippines start talks on a defence pact
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A Chinese carrier strike group has headed for the South China Sea after completing a week-long drill near Japan’s waters, according to the Japanese Defence Ministry.
There are at least 10 Chinese warships, including the Shandong aircraft carrier, in the group.
The ministry said the carrier was seen conducting ship-borne aircraft operations in the Pacific south of Japan’s Miyako Island and east of the Philippines’ Luzon Island for about a week from October 28.
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The Shandong practised 570 ship-based aircraft take-offs and landings – most of them involving J-15 fighter jets, the ministry said. Helicopters were also put through their paces during the week-long exercise, according to the ministry.
01:29
China launches the Fujian, the PLA Navy’s 3rd aircraft carrier
China launches the Fujian, the PLA Navy’s 3rd aircraft carrier
At the nearest point the ships were about 430km (267 miles) from Miyako Island. After the exercise, the carrier group turned west into the Bashi Channel between Luzon and Taiwan, sailing towards the South China Sea on Monday, it said.
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