On Monday, the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force observed a large number of vessels from the People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) in the Western Pacific, led by the aircraft carrier Shandong. The vessel, along with its escort group, was navigating in waters approximately 420 kilometers south of Miyako Island, accompanied by Luyang III-class and Len Hai-class destroyers, as well as a Jankai II-class frigate.
It is noteworthy that in November of last year, the Shandong was also deployed in the Western Pacific. Additionally, in July of this year, the Japanese Ministry of Defense reported that its naval forces closely monitored the activities of the Shandong carrier strike group.
With less than a month between deployments, the Shandong commenced its second exercise of the year on Monday, conducting takeoff and landing operations for fighters and helicopters. Experts indicate that carrying out a second exercise in such a short period demonstrates that the carrier is “capable of performing consecutive missions with brief intervals and exhibits a high level of maintenance capability.”
The waters of the Western Pacific where the Shandong operates are considered strategically important for China, situated in the Philippine Sea, east of Taiwan, northeast of the Philippines, south of Japan, and northwest of Guam. However, Colonel Zhang Xiaogang, spokesperson for the Ministry of National Defense of China, stated that the carrier’s high-seas combat drills are “an annual routine” with no specific objectives and that the PLAN will periodically conduct “similar exercises to continually improve the combat capabilities of the carrier strike group.”
*Cover photograph used for illustration purposes.
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