The Liaoning aircraft carrier group of the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) Navy holds far sea real combat scenario exercises in the Yellow Sea, the East China Sea and the West Pacific in December, 2021. Photo: PLA Navy

 
The Liaoning aircraft carrier group recently started a routine, realistic combat training mission in the West Pacific, the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) Navy announced on Tuesday, after the powerful flotilla was reportedly spotted entering the West Pacific via the Miyako Strait on Monday.

Consisting of at least eight warships, the carrier group is the largest to head out to far sea among recent voyages, marking a significant combat capability boost in preparation for missions that include a potential military conflict across the Taiwan Straits, experts said.

The PLA Navy sent the Liaoning aircraft carrier group to conduct realistic combat training in the far sea of the West Pacific, Senior Captain Gao Xiucheng, a spokesperson of the PLA Navy, confirmed in a press release on Tuesday.

The exercise is a routine one organized according to the annual schedule and is aimed at boosting the Navy's capabilities to carry out its duties, Gao said, noting that the voyage is in line with related international law and practice and is not targeted at another party.

Gao's remarks came after Japan reported on the movements of the Chinese carrier group on Monday.

A total of eight PLA Navy vessels, namely the aircraft carrier Liaoning, the Type 055 large guided missile destroyer Nanchang, the Type 052D guided missile destroyers Xining, Urumqi and Chengdu, the Type 052C guided missile destroyer Zhengzhou, the Type 054A guided missile frigate Xiangtan and the Type 901 comprehensive supply ship Hulunhu, were spotted sailing from the East China Sea through the waters between Okinawa Island and Miyako Island headed toward the Pacific Ocean on Monday, Japan's Ministry of Defense Joint Staff said in a statement released later that same day.

A number of J-15 carrier-based fighter jets as well as Z-8 and Z-9 helicopters could be seen standing by on the flight deck of the Liaoning, according to a photo attached to the press release.

According to official PLA media outlets, the Liaoning has had some maritime exercises earlier this year, and this should be the first time it has been across the first island chain and sailed into the West Pacific in 2022, following the aircraft carrier's last far sea voyage in December last year, observers said.

This also marks the largest Liaoning aircraft carrier group in recent voyages. In December's voyage, the group reportedly featured at least six vessels - the Liaoning, a Type 055, a Type 052D, two Type 054As and a Type 901. In another far sea exercise in April 2021, the carrier group also consisted of some six warships - the Liaoning, a Type 055, two Type 052Ds, a Type 054A and a Type 901. Back in 2016 when the Liaoning first had a far sea training in the West Pacific, it had three destroyers, three frigates and a supply ship as escorts.

A Beijing-based military expert who requested anonymity told the Global Times on Tuesday that far sea exercises have already become routine for the Liaoning, as the PLA Navy is making strides to become a deep-blue navy. 

Based on previous voyages, after sailing through the Miyako Strait, the Chinese vessels could go further east into the Pacific Ocean, or they could transit through the Bashi Channel south to the island of Taiwan and conduct exercises in the South China Sea, the expert predicted.

The quality and quantity of warships featured in the carrier group - including a whopping five "Chinese Aegis" destroyers - are very impressive and reflect the rapid growth of the PLA Navy, the expert said.

By featuring a number of different types of main battle vessels, the current Liaoning carrier group is a complete group that has significantly higher combat capability than before, Song Zhongping, a Chinese military expert and TV commentator, told the Global Times on Tuesday.

It is possible that the carrier group is also accompanied by underwater forces, Song said.

All far sea exercises are part of preparations for actual combat, and it is certain that aircraft carriers will take part in preparations for a potential military conflict across the Taiwan Straits, Song said.

The Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force dispatched the Izumo, a de facto aircraft carrier, as well as P-1 maritime patrol aircraft and P-3C anti-submarine aircraft to gather intelligence and monitor the activities of the Chinese vessels, Japan's Ministry of Defense Joint Staff said in the press release.

It is almost certain that Japanese and US warships and warplanes will conduct close-in reconnaissance attempts and make some provocative moves on the Chinese flotilla, so the Chinese vessels and vessel-based aircraft must have been well prepared to confidently deal with them, analysts said.