In a first, China aircraft carrier to lead Pacific drills

BEIJING: China’s navy plans a training exercise in the Pacific that would include for the first time its sole aircraft carrier, state media reported — a move likely to ratchet up regional tensions. The duration of the drill and the route of the flotilla were not known.

BEIJING: China’s navy sent its sole aircraft carrier into the Pacific for the first time, state media reported, a move likely to ratchet up regional tensions.

The duration of the drill and the route of the flotilla were not known. But the Soviet-made carrier is based in the northeastern city of Dalian, suggesting the fleet would enter the Pacific through a disputed island chain between Taiwan and Japan.

“A Chinese navy formation, including the aircraft carrier Liaoning, headed towards the West Pacific on Saturday for scheduled blue-water training,” Xinhua said on Saturday, citing China’s navy spokesperson Liang Yang.

Japan’s defence ministry confirmed eight Chinese vessels, including the carrier and three destroyers, had been spotted by one of its ships in the central part of the East China Sea on Saturday afternoon.

In recent days the Liaoning has been involved in exercises in the Yellow Sea, with J-15 fighter jets taking off from it and conducting air refuelling and combat drills, Xinhua said.