Continuing with the deployment conducted by the People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) of China, during the early days of July, new satellite images circulating in Open Source Intelligence (OSINT) sources revealed the positions of a fleet comprising seven vessels, including Type 075 amphibious assault ships and the Shandong aircraft carrier, in the Philippine Sea.
The fleet mentioned has been observed near the Philippine Sea in recent days, both by authorities in Taiwan and the Philippines. There was speculation that the aircraft carrier was heading towards the first island chain in the Western Pacific.
In the new photographs, the Strike Group was identified as consisting of two Type 052D destroyers, two Type 055 destroyers, the Shandong aircraft carrier (CV-17), one Type 075 amphibious assault ship, one Type 054A frigate, and the Type 901 replenishment ship.
This deployment of the Shandong is the first of the year 2024, following its last voyage in December 2023 near the Taiwan Strait upon its return from the Pacific Ocean. Meanwhile, the Fujian (CV-18) is reportedly preparing for its third sea trial on its path to becoming operational.
The maneuvering of the entire fleet has been subject to analysis due to recent conflicting events and tensions between China and the Philippines in recent weeks. Analysts noted on July 3rd that both the USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN-71) of the United States Navy and the Shandong (CV-17) were operating in close proximity in the South China Sea and Luzon Strait.
*Images used for illustrative purposes
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