China’s Liaoning aircraft carrier puts jets through paces after skirting Japanese atoll

Carrier heads for the Celebes Sea as US and Philippine forces prepare for joint manoeuvres

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The Liaoning aircraft carrier has been on deployment since late September. Photo: Japanese Ministry of Defence

Published: 12:00pm, 4 Oct 2024

China’s Liaoning aircraft carrier has been spotted in waters southeast of the Philippines, carrying out manoeuvres as the US and its regional partners prepare for joint military exercises.

The Joint Staff under the Japanese Ministry of Defence said on Wednesday that the Chinese carrier, escorted by four destroyers and one fast combat support ship, was reported earlier this week sailing southeast of the Philippine main island of Mindanao and heading towards the Celebes Sea.

The Joint Staff said the Liaoning began its deployment in late September, passing near Okinotorishima, Japan’s southernmost point, on September 20-21 and was last reported to be about 1,520km (945 miles) southwest of the atoll.

The transit near Okinotori is the Liaoning’s closest approach to Japan’s southwestern territories so far and prompted a diplomatic protest from Tokyo. Japan expressed concern that such movements posed a threat to regional security and stability.

The Joint Staff also said that between September 27 and October 1, Chinese fighter aircraft and helicopters conducted about 220 combined take-offs and landings from the vessels.

That was in addition to 410 aircraft sorties conducted from the ships from September 20-26, the Joint Staff said.