By The Straits Times | Created at 2026-06-22 09:26:30 | Updated at 2026-06-22 17:32:21
8 hours ago
BEIJING, June 22 - China's Liaoning aircraft carrier and accompanying vessels on Monday returned to a Chinese port after more than 40 days of drills in the South China Sea and the western Pacific Ocean, Chinese state broadcaster CCTV reported.
• The training focused on combat readiness, including air defence, anti-ship strikes, support missions, long-range rescue and live-fire exercises, according to CCTV.
• The group carried out multiple rounds of ship-air offensive and defensive drills, it said.
• Joint exercises with an amphibious assault ship group were also conducted in the western Pacific Ocean to enhance coordination in far-sea operations.
• CCTV also said that during the training, the Liaoning carrier group "professionally and prudently" handled what the broadcaster called "repeated close-range tracking, harassment and provocation" by Japanese ships and aircraft.
• In early June, Japan's defence ministry said it had monitored the Liaoning aircraft carrier and accompanying vessels operating east of the Philippines' Luzon island in late May. REUTERS
