China deploys two aircraft carrier groups in the same region of the Pacific Ocean for the first time

For the first time, the Navy of the People’s Liberation Army of China has deployed two aircraft carrier groups simultaneously in the same region of the Pacific Ocean.

This was reported by Naval News.

It’s about the Liaoning aircraft carrier (a modernized former Soviet Varyag of the 1143 Kretshet project) and the first Chinese national-built aircraft carrier Shandong.

Both ships are currently operating in the Western Pacific.

The Liaoning aircraft carrier group was the first to enter the region – on May 25, it passed through the Miyako Strait and appeared in the Philippine Sea.

The group consists of a Type 055 cruiser, a Type 052D destroyer and a support vessel.

After appearing in the Philippine Sea, the group headed south, covering the east coast of the Philippines, and on May 30 turned northeast toward Marcus Island.

By June 8, the Liaoning was heading west again, closing the distance to the other Chinese carrier group. On the same day, the carrier performed flight operations with takeoff and landing of deck aircraft.

The second aircraft carrier group, led by the Shandong, entered the region through the Bashi Strait, which separates Taiwan and the Philippines.

The force consists of a Type 055 cruiser, a Type 052D destroyer, two Type 054 frigates, and a Type 903A replenishment vessel. As of June 9, it was south of Japan and was conducting flights with the participation of aircraft and helicopters.

The simultaneous presence of two aircraft carriers in the area creates conditions for China to conduct full-scale exercises in the “carrier vs. carrier” scenario, during which each strike group can act as a conditional opponent of the other.

Such exercises are especially relevant in preparation for a theoretical conflict with the United States.