China's navy performs first dual carrier drill in South China Sea

PHOTO CAPTION: A helicopter takes off from China's Shandong aircraft carrier, over Pacific Ocean waters, south of Okinawa prefecture, Japan, in this handout photo taken April 15, 2023 and released by the Joint Staff Office of the Defense Ministry of Japan April 17, 2023. Joint Staff Office of the Defense Ministry of Japan/HANDOUT via REUTERS

HONG KONG (Reuters) - China's aircraft carriers Liaoning and Shandong carried out dual aircraft carrier formation exercises for the first time in the South China Sea, the PLA navy said, a move that sets China's navy up for more diverse and complex missions.

China is in disputes with several of its neighbours over its extensive claims of territorial waters in the South China Sea.

During the training, the formation moved to the Yellow Sea, East China Sea and South China Sea before returning home safely, according to a post on the PLA Navy's official Weibo account.

"In the South China Sea, the Liaoning and Shandong ship formations conducted a dual carrier formation exercise for the first time to hone and improve the combat capability of the aircraft carrier formation system," it said.

Exercises with two aircraft carriers and their associated support vessels require a high level of operational flexibility and showcase the ability to deploy and sustain extensive air and sea power, providing a powerful deterrent to potential adversaries.

The PLA Navy operates the Liaoning and the Shandong as its two active aircraft carriers. China's third carrier, the Fujian, was unveiled in June 2022. It is still undertaking sea trials and is not yet operational.



(Reporting by Farah Master and the Beijing newsroom; Editing by Lincoln Feast.)