The picture shows aircraft carrier Shandong berths at a naval port in Sanya. China's first domestically-made aircraft carrier Shandong (Hull 17) was officially commissioned to the PLA Navy at a military port in Sanya, South China's Hainan Province, on the afternoon of December 17, 2019, making China one of the few countries in the world that have multiple carriers. Photo:China Military

China's aircraft carrier Shandong was recently spotted sailing near the Philippines in a move media said serves as a deterrence against continuous Philippine provocations on Chinese islands and reefs in the South China Sea.

The aircraft carrier is likely on a scheduled exercise that could also prepare it for a potential far seas voyage into the West Pacific, Chinese experts said on Sunday.

Citing commercial satellite images, Hong Kong news outlet the Singtao Daily and media on the island of Taiwan reported on Saturday that the aircraft carrier Shandong of the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) Navy recently arrived in waters about 200 nautical miles away from Luzon Island, the Philippines.

At a time when the tensions persist between China and the Philippines over islands and reefs in the South China Sea, China's first deployment of an aircraft carrier to waters near the Philippines aims to deter, media said.

Previous media reports suggest that the PLA has already sent major surface combat ships including Type 055 large destroyers and Type 052D destroyers, as well as main amphibious vessels such as a Type 075 amphibious assault ship and a Type 071 amphibious landing ship to the South China Sea.

It is completely normal that the aircraft carrier Shandong conducts training exercises in the South China Sea, because only through training can the carrier gain combat capabilities, Zhang Junshe, a Chinese military expert, told the Global Times on Sunday.

To the Philippines that has been conducting infringing provocations, these forces will naturally become a deterrence, as the Chinese military will resolutely defend China's territorial sovereignty and maritime rights, Zhang said.

Media reports said that the aircraft carrier Shandong's main mission is likely not the Philippines, but a far seas voyage beyond the first island chain into the West Pacific, because China does not need to deploy an aircraft carrier amid the ongoing tension with the Philippines.

Another Chinese military expert, who requested anonymity, told the Global Times on Sunday that the aircraft carrier Shandong conducted multiple far seas exercises beyond the first island chain last year, so it will likely also hold similar drills this year.

It is normal that it makes preparation trainings in the South China Sea before sailing to more distant waters, the above-quoted expert said.