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| China's first aircraft carrier the Liaoning prepares to set off at dawn yesterday for training exercises in the South China Sea. Photo: Xinhua |
The Diaoyu Islands are a group of uninhabited islands located roughly due east of mainland China, northeast of Taiwan, west of Okinawa Island, and north of the southwestern end of the Ryukyu Islands. They are currently controlled by Japan, which calls them Senkaku Islands. Both China and Taiwan claim sovereignty over the islands.
News›China, MILITARY, China's first
aircraft carrier begins first battle formation training drills in the
politically sensitive waters of the South China Sea, UPDATED : Wednesday, 27 November, 2013, 5:27pm
China's first aircraft carrier has set off for training exercises in the politically sensitive waters of the South China Sea.
It is the first time the Liaoning has carried out drills in the area, parts of which are claimed by Vietnam and the Philippines.
Beijing is currently embroiled in a diplomatic row with Japan after Chinese forces set up an air defence zone over the East China Sea over the weekend which includes disputed islands also claimed by Tokyo.
Watch: The South China Sea dispute explained
The Liaoning was escorted by two guided missile destroyers, the Shenyang and the Shijiazhuang, as well as two advanced missile frigates, the Yantai and the Weifang as it left the port of Qingdao yesterday, a report posted on the PLA navy website said.
The Liaoning has conducted more than 100 exercises and drills since it entered service in September last year, but almost all were conducted in the Yellow Sea near the carrier's home base of Qingdao. It is the first time the carrier has conducted a drill as part of a battle group.
The report said the training mission was aimed at testing Liaoning's weapons systems. It did not say how long the drills would last. Previous missions have practised take-off and landing procedures.
Macau-based military observer Antony Wong Dong said the Liaoning battle group had chosen the South China Sea due to its political sensitivity and because its deep water was ideal for big ships to operate.
"The PLA's biggest naval base is at Sanya in Hainan , which is similar to the US' Pearl Harbour in Hawaii. The Sanya base could provide comprehensive support to Liaoning in the coming drills," Wong said.
Beijing-based naval expert Li Jie said the exercises would involve a range of vessels and technology.
"Today's vessels with Liaoning all have anti-submarine and air defence functions. The formation will be perfected after the submarines and other vessels join the group," he said.
China bought the refurbished Liaoning from Ukraine in 2002.
Earlier this month, the carrier completed a 19-day drill in the northern Bohai Sea, with engineers on board successfully dismantling and assembling the engine of the carrier-based J-15 fighter jet for the first time.
It is the first time the Liaoning has carried out drills in the area, parts of which are claimed by Vietnam and the Philippines.
Beijing is currently embroiled in a diplomatic row with Japan after Chinese forces set up an air defence zone over the East China Sea over the weekend which includes disputed islands also claimed by Tokyo.
Watch: The South China Sea dispute explained
The Liaoning was escorted by two guided missile destroyers, the Shenyang and the Shijiazhuang, as well as two advanced missile frigates, the Yantai and the Weifang as it left the port of Qingdao yesterday, a report posted on the PLA navy website said.
The Liaoning has conducted more than 100 exercises and drills since it entered service in September last year, but almost all were conducted in the Yellow Sea near the carrier's home base of Qingdao. It is the first time the carrier has conducted a drill as part of a battle group.
The report said the training mission was aimed at testing Liaoning's weapons systems. It did not say how long the drills would last. Previous missions have practised take-off and landing procedures.
Macau-based military observer Antony Wong Dong said the Liaoning battle group had chosen the South China Sea due to its political sensitivity and because its deep water was ideal for big ships to operate.
"The PLA's biggest naval base is at Sanya in Hainan , which is similar to the US' Pearl Harbour in Hawaii. The Sanya base could provide comprehensive support to Liaoning in the coming drills," Wong said.
Beijing-based naval expert Li Jie said the exercises would involve a range of vessels and technology.
"Today's vessels with Liaoning all have anti-submarine and air defence functions. The formation will be perfected after the submarines and other vessels join the group," he said.
China bought the refurbished Liaoning from Ukraine in 2002.
Earlier this month, the carrier completed a 19-day drill in the northern Bohai Sea, with engineers on board successfully dismantling and assembling the engine of the carrier-based J-15 fighter jet for the first time.
This article appeared in the South China Morning Post print edition as Liaoning heads for disputed local seas
Tuesday, November 26, 2013
>>The tip of the immense iceberg of US diplomatic stupidity now spotted off the Chinese Pacific coast<<
written specially for the Asia Times
Do you remember President Clinton ordered two US aircraft carrier battle groups into the Strait of Taiwan in 1996 to "send a message" to China? Well, it appears that Barak Obama, the lame duck spineless multi-humiliated and multi-defeated President of the US of A just had a surge of testosterone and decided to provoke China yet again by mocking its decision to extend its air defense zone over the Senkaku/Diaoyu islands. The way Uncle Sam sent his usual message of imperial contempt was to send two B-52 bombers to flout the Chinese air defense zone. Not content to do something so mind-bogglingly stupid and irresponsible, the Americans also decided to make sure to add an inflammatory statement. According to the BBC, (emphasis added)
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| TAIWANESE SEE OBAMA VERY CLEARLY |
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| ASIA PIVOTS RIGHT ON THROUGH THE EMPTYNESS |
America allowed Israel to lead and Israel lead America with Israeli Firsters, Project for New American Century, the Coo Coo Religious Right and the Democratic Liberally Headless Dead Brained Endocrine System Poisoning, what a country of multi-cultural - metro-sexual - useless eaters as Kissinger said and then the disposable commodities -- time for Kissinger's Minders to get the job done here!
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