China’s aircraft carrier formations complete far-sea training

China’s naval formations of two aircraft carriers, Liaoning and Shandong, have completed their far-sea combat-oriented training and safely returned to their home ports, according to the Chinese navy on Monday.

The navy said the training effectively tested the participating troops’ joint operation capabilities and enhanced their capacity to safeguard national sovereignty, security and development interests. The formations conducted far-sea training across the Yellow Sea, East China Sea, South China Sea, and the Western Pacific, executing actual combat missions involving various troops and arms which cooperated with one another closely and also engaged in confrontations.

The missions in the training included reconnaissance and early warning, defense and counterattack, maritime strikes, air defense, and day-and-night tactical flights of carrier-based aircraft.