China’s Liaoning carrier group has appeared in the South China Sea off Hainan, satellite photos show, after it was said to pass through the Taiwan Strait, in what analysts are describing as an “unusually large display of the Chinese military’s growing naval might.”
That is according to Reuters, which obtained the photos showing at least 40 ships flanking the aircraft carrier.
In addition to the scale of the exercise, observers said the movements were likely aimed at showing off inter-fleet capabilities.
“Judging by the images, it does seem they are keen to show that elements of the South Sea Fleet are able to routinely join up with the carrier strike group from Dalian in the north,” Collin Koh, a security expert at Singapore’s S Rajaratnam School of International Studies, was quoted as saying.
“It does seem they want to show inter-fleet interoperability – something the [People’s Liberation Army] Navy has been quietly working on for some time.”
But, Koh added, “while it highlights an extensive ability to deploy, we are still left to guess at the PLAN’s combat readiness.”
The exercise follows reports that the Liaoning carrier group, as well as Chinese fighter jets, passed through the Taiwan Strait and over the Bashi Channel to the south of Taiwan.
It also comes after a US guided-missile destroyer carried out a freedom of navigation operation near an artificial island controlled by China on Friday. China’s Defense Ministry termed the move a provocation, saying that the operation “violated basic rules of international relations, and harmed regional peace and stability.”
Indian navy alone would kick China’s ass in no time.
Please observe the equity market.If those show off by both side didnt affected the shares market then nothing much to debate about the latest drills
The bully flex its muscle but free world arnt afraid its useless exercise
Then US Senior senators now urge sale of F-35B to Taiwan. What an oppurtunity. 🙂
I think china is is playing old west. A criminal was spotted in the area so the sherrif rounded up a posse to chase em down. ????
As thought like they own the sea….
Tiangong-1 reminds me of Skylab 1969
And what does your country have? Zilch.
And the term carrier group is to imply a fleet of vessels centered around 1 carrier as the mothership/flagship of the group.
Keep believing that china still produces garbage, it’s easier for them to conquer you from beneath your nose when suddenly realize everything you use, is made in China.
Carrier group? You only have 1 carrier you morons, not to mention 2nd hand from russia fitted with crap quality china garbage
There are Chinese people all over Europe,shops, restaurants,all subsidized by Chinese National bank..Send them back home,UE doesn’t need Carrier show off for nothing, we only need our jobs,we need to control back our almost 300 million consumers,not give them away to China!
white world only principle might makes right biggest arms dealer england and france biggest drugs sellers
Nonsebse
Nonsense
Nonsense
Sad that even here that censoring is highly erratic…
Modern day Zeng He in China’s sea. Formidable !!!!!!!
Ken Nguyen…..It should be aimed at multiple ones then, such as India, Australia, the US, and all the disputants to the SCS. If so, I think the drill only served to promote arms race.
Drill enemies, China and US. Two many drills without real use of forces , no one would be seriously .
Awsomeness !!!
A large scale drill like that takes time to organise and assemble the ships. The exercises were planned long before the US provocation with a single missile destroyer. The exercises are not aimed at any one but a simple training drill.