The picture shows the aircraft carrier Liaoning (Hull 16) and other vessels and fighter jets in the maritime parade conducted by the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) Navy in the South China Sea on the morning of April 12, 2018.Photo:China Military

The Liaoning aircraft carrier group of the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) Navy has reportedly returned from its far sea training in the West Pacific, where it set new records in terms of aircraft sortie rate, vessels involved in the group and areas covered, as the drills displayed and enhanced the PLA's capabilities in safeguarding national sovereignty and territorial integrity, analysts said on Tuesday.

Japan's Maritime Self-Defense Force spotted a PLA Navy flotilla consisting of the aircraft carrier Liaoning, the Type 055 large destroyers Anshan and Wuxi, the Type 052D destroyer Chengdu, the Type 054A frigate Zaozhuang and the Type 901 comprehensive replenishment ship Hulunhu sailing from the West Pacific through the Miyako Strait into the East China Sea on Sunday, Japan's Ministry of Defense Joint Staff said in a press release on Monday.

The Chinese warships entered the West Pacific through the Miyako Strait on December 16, and held exercises in waters east of the island of Taiwan and south of Japan, as well as waters west of Guam before they returned, according to the Japanese press release.

In tandem with the Liaoning aircraft carrier group's return, the PLA also sent a WZ-7 high-altitude reconnaissance drone through the Miyako Strait on Sunday and Monday, marking the first time Japan's Air Self-Defense Force has spotted this type of aircraft.

In the 15 days from December 17 to Saturday, the aircraft carrier Liaoning hosted about 320 fighter jets and helicopter takeoff and landing activities, the Japanese Defense Ministry said. This intensive sortie rate set a record, surpassing the Liaoning's drills in the West Pacific in May 2022 with over 300 aircraft sorties in some 20 days.

By including two Type 055 large destroyers for the first time, observers said the flotilla is by far the most powerful Liaoning aircraft carrier group.

It is also the first time the Chinese aircraft carrier was spotted operating near Guam, meaning that the record-breaking voyage not only broke the first island chain, but also reached the second island chain, analysts said.

The Liaoning is not meant to stay in homeport, and drills in the far sea have become regular and routine, Song Zhongping, a Chinese military expert and TV commentator, told the Global Times.

The Liaoning carrier group has formed complete combat and support capabilities with enhanced vessel-aircraft interoperability, and China now has the comprehensive capability to seize air supremacy and control of the sea far away from its homeland, Song said.

Such trainings will also garner valuable experiences and train talent for other Chinese aircraft carriers, including the country's third aircraft carrier, the Fujian, another Chinese military expert who requested anonymity told the Global Times.

The Fujian aims to conduct tests and sea trials in 2023, Senior Captain Qian Shumin, executive officer of the Fujian, said on China Central Television on Monday.