Chinese Dual Carrier Strike Group Operates in the Pacific For the First time
According to a recent JMSDF report, two Chinese aircraft carriers conducted dual carrier operations in the Pacific Ocean for the first time last week. From June 8th to 16th, the People’s Liberation Army Navy carriers “Shandong” and “Liaoning”, as well as six other ships of various classes, sailed west off Shanghai, South off Okinawa, then further south towards the Philippines, and then East towards the open Pacific. During this time, the two carriers conducted flight operations both independently and simultaneously further into the Pacific than ever before.
This event marks a major milestone in the PLAN’s development of its carrier capabilities, with this being the furthest out that two Chinese carriers have conducted simultaneous operations so far. This is a development from last October where two PLAN carriers were seen conducting simultaneous drills in the South China Sea. This most recent group transited past the second island chain, a stretch of islands that goes from Japan down to Guam and Micronesia. The JMSDF reported that Shandong was spotted as close as 450 km off of Okinotorishima, Japan’s southernmost island, with Liaoning being spotted around 300 km off of Minamitori, Japan’s eastmost island.
Over the course of the exercise, the number of flight operations on Liaoning ranged from 10 per day surging to 90 per day, and with the operations on Shandong ranging from 10 per day to 30 per day. Over the course of the exercise, the Liaoning saw a total of 150 takeoffs and landings from June 10-12, with Shandong seeing a total of 120 takeoffs and landings over the same period. Onboard the carriers was a complement of several different aircraft such as the Shenyang J-11 fighter jet, which was the main aircraft launched by both carriers during their operations, as well as other helicopters and support aircraft.
This trip also saw several other ships operating within the two respective groups of each carrier. As per the JMSDF, the Liaoning’s group was spotted with two other ships, that being a Renhai class Type 055 destroyer and a Luyang III class Type 052D destroyer, named Nanchang and Tangshan respectively. Shandong’s group was somewhat larger, with four other ships; another Renhai Type 055 destroyer named Yanan, another Luyang III Type 052D destroyer Zhanjiang, a Jiangkai II Type 054A frigate Yuncheng, and a Fuchi Class Type 903A replenishment ship, Chaganhu.
According to Chinese spokesperson Captain Wang Xuemeng, the two carriers were conducting the exercise “to test the forces’ capabilities in far seas defense and joint operations,” and saying that the exercises were “routine training”. Another statement by a spokesperson for the Chinese Defense Ministry emphasises that “China’s carrier training was conducted in international waters, was not directed at any specific country or target, and fully complied with international law and international practice.”
This exercise set various milestones for the PLAN in distance, operations and tempo in locations that are all in line with greater pushes for readiness and expanded capability across the Chinese military, as well as increase in tempo for PLAN operations around the South China Sea and beyond. This increase in activity and capability has many actors in the region, such as the Philippines and Japan, concerned as tensions in the region continue to rise.