Liaoning Carrier Group Completes 40-Day Far-Seas Training Amid Japanese Monitoring

China’s first operational aircraft carrier, Liaoning, returned to its home port of Qingdao on 20 June after a more-than-40-day deployment that spanned the South China Sea, the Philippine Sea and the East China Sea. The strike group conducted live-fire drills, air-defence and anti-ship exercises, long-range rescue missions, and joint operations with a Type 075 amphibious assault ship. Carrier-based J-15 fighters performed repeated take-offs and landings, including aerial refuelling with YU-20 tankers, while the group maintained continuous flight operations throughout the period.

China’s Liaoning Carrier Returns Home After 40-Day Pacific Deployment, Reports Japanese ‘Harassment’

Liaoning entered service in 2012 and has since been joined by the Shandong carrier and the newer Fujian (Type 003) undergoing sea trials. Annual far-seas training is described by the People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) as a routine element of its combat-readiness plan, aimed at “continuously improving its capability to fulfill its missions.” The deployments occur against a backdrop of heightened Sino-Japanese tension, with Beijing warning that Japan’s recent defence modernisation, backed by the United States, revives “imperial-era militarism.”

Newsweek

The Chinese formation included Liaoning, cruiser Wuxi, destroyer Kaifeng, frigate Luohe, fast combat support ship Hulunhu, and amphibious assault ship Anhui. Japanese forces that monitored the group comprised the destroyer JS Asahi and P-3C maritime patrol aircraft, supplemented by unspecified warplanes. A U.S. P-8A Poseidon was also observed in a separate encounter, though it was not mentioned in Chinese press releases.

China’s Liaoning Carrier Returns Home After 40-Day Pacific Deployment, Reports Japanese ‘Harassment’

• Duration: 40 + days (mid-May to 20 June)

South China Morning Post

• Key dates: entered Philippine Sea 19 May; carrier flight ops 26-28 May; returned 20 June

China’s Liaoning Carrier Returns Home After 40-Day Pacific Deployment, Reports Japanese ‘Harassment’

• Ships: 1 carrier, 4 major combatants, 1 support vessel, 1 amphibious assault ship

China’s Liaoning Carrier Returns Home After 40-Day Pacific Deployment, Reports Japanese ‘Harassment’

• Aircraft: J-15 fighters, YU-20 tanker, J-15T/J-35/KJ-600 (tested on Fujian)

China’s Liaoning Carrier Returns Home After 40-Day Pacific Deployment, Reports Japanese ‘Harassment’

• Exercises: live-fire, air-defence, anti-ship, rescue, joint amphibious drills

Chinese Carrier Liaoning Returns After 40-Day Drills

• The Chinese military asserted that Japanese ships and aircraft “repeatedly conducted close-in tracking, surveillance, harassment and provocations.”

South China Morning Post

• CCTV reported the carrier group “responded with professionalism and prudence” to these actions.

South China Morning Post

• Senior Colonel Zhang Xiaogang described the deployment as “a planned training exercise in the western Pacific.”

Chinese Carrier Liaoning Returns After 40-Day Drills

• A Chinese navy spokesperson emphasized that the drills are “routine…in accordance with its annual plan.”

Newsweek

• Japan’s Defence Ministry offered no comment, and the U.S. Pacific Command did not respond to inquiries.

Newsweek

Japanese officials have not publicly addressed the Chinese accusations, leaving the alleged provocations uncorroborated. The U.S. Pacific Command’s silence further limits external verification, prompting analysts to note a lack of independent confirmation of the incidents.

South China Morning Post

Chinese releases cite “at least four close-range encounters” but provide no dates, locations, or Japanese confirmations. The absence of detailed timelines and the omission of the U.S. P-8A encounter from Chinese statements create informational gaps regarding the full scope of interactions.

Newsweek

• “repeatedly conducted close-in tracking, surveillance, harassment and provocations” — Chinese military statement

Newsweek

• “professionally and prudently” — Chinese state media

China’s Liaoning Carrier Returns Home After 40-Day Pacific Deployment, Reports Japanese ‘Harassment’

• “This training is a routine exercise conducted by the Chinese navy in accordance with its annual plan, aimed at continuously improving its capability to fulfill its missions,” — Chinese navy spokesperson

Newsweek

• “During the training exercise, Japanese ships and aircraft repeatedly tracked, monitored, harassed and provoked the Chinese at close range,” — CCTV

South China Morning Post

• “CCTV released videos of the exercises on Monday and said the Liaoning had demonstrated that its combat capability had reached a new level.” — CCTV report

South China Morning Post

• “Speaking at a defence ministry briefing on June 9, Chinese Defence Ministry spokesperson Senior Colonel Zhang Xiaogang said the deployment was part of a planned training exercise in the western Pacific.” — Senior Colonel Zhang Xiaogang

China’s Liaoning Carrier Returns Home After 40-Day Pacific Deployment, Reports Japanese ‘Harassment’

Following Liaoning’s return, China’s newest carrier Fujian completed additional sea trials, testing advanced aircraft such as the J-15T, J-35, and KJ-600. The PLAN is expected to continue its annual far-seas exercises, with future deployments likely to intersect with Japanese and U.S. naval activities in the contested western Pacific.

China’s Liaoning Carrier Returns Home After 40-Day Pacific Deployment, Reports Japanese ‘Harassment’