China’s Liaoning Carrier Strike Group Deploys to Western Pacific for Far-Sea Live-Fire Drills

A Chinese carrier formation led by Liaoning left for the Western Pacific for intensive training, per the Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) Navy.

The carrier formation will conduct training exercises such as far-sea tactical flight operations, support and cover manoeuvres, live-fire drills, rescue missions, etc.

This routine training is designed to test and improve the abilities of the troops and enable them to practice in different scenarios, made to replicate real-life circumstances during active combat or high-value missions.

The training is being done in line with the annual plan and is vital for the Chinese Navy, which expands its influence beyond its territories, with rapid ship commissionings and an increasing fleet of modern vessels.

The training aims to enhance the capability of the forces to fulfil their missions, and complies with international law and common practice, the PLA Navy said in a statement.

At the heart of this training is the aircraft carrier Liaoning, which is 306.4 m long and 74.4 m wide.

The vessel was laid down in 1985 for the Soviet Navy. After the dissolution of the Soviet Union, it was towed to Dalian Naval Shipyard in China in 2002.

It was rebuilt and commissioned into the PLAN in 2012, becoming the first aircraft carrier of the Chinese Navy, though it was first called a training ship, intended to enable the navy to familiarise itself with aircraft carrier operations.

It was upgraded in 2018, and as per Chinese media announcements, it was shifted to a combat role in 2019.