Featured Image Credits: CGTN
China’s People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) has conducted a series of exercises with its second aircraft carrier, Shandong (Hull 17), in the South China Sea. Shandong is China’s first domestically-made aircraft carrier. The bulk of its first aircraft carrier, Liaoning, was bought from Ukraine.
China had officially commissioned its second aircraft carrier on December 17, 2019, making China one of the few countries to operate multiple carriers.
The exercises are to let the region know that two aircraft carriers are actively involved in training for combat preparedness said Senior Captain Gao Xiucheng, a spokesperson from the PLA Navy.
According to China, such drills are part of its annual work schedule, are fully legitimate and legal, and will contribute to boosting the naval service’s capability to safeguard China’s sovereignty, security and development interests, as well as regional peace and stability.
“We hope the outside world can view [the Shandong’s exercise] objectively and rationally. The PLA Navy will continue to organize similar exercises according to the plan regularly in the future,” Gao said.
This is the first time the Shandong has been part of a major naval exercise in 2021 after it entered service in December 2019 and underwent further trials and training sessions in 2020.
China’s other aircraft carrier Liaoning carrier group also recently conducted routine drills and training near the Taiwan Strait and in the South China Sea.
For a long time, China has been working on plans to build a strong blue-water navy like the Americans who have many battle groups of nuclear-powered aircraft carriers. With two aircraft carriers fully operational, the PLAN can flex its muscle in South East Asia.
China is also actively building nuclear-powered aircraft carriers. The two carriers it has at its disposal is nothing but a platform to train for combat preparedness in the future and develop capabilities for long-distance and long deployment voyages.
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