Chinese Aircraft Carrier Holds Combat Drill In South China Sea; PLA Plans More Exercises Near Taiwan

Amid tensions in the Indo-Pacific, China's second aircraft carrier, the Shandong, and its battle group conducted drills in the South China Sea. The exercises reportedly simulated a battlefront and tested the combat strength of troops in these conditions.

The wargames proved that the carrier is getting ready for far sea operations, claimed Chinese mouthpiece Global Times, quoting regional analysts. A statement by the People's Liberation Army (PLA) said the realistic combat-oriented exercises were held in an undisclosed area in the South China Sea in early autumn (which started on Aug. 7 as per the lunar calendar.) It was around the same time that China conducted live-fire drills around Taiwan in response to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's visit to the island.

A video uploaded on Chinese social media WeChat by the PLA showed
J-15 fighter jets take off with the Shandong's ski-jump ramp and land on the deck aided by arrester wires. The Southern Command added that it had carried out resupply training.

The combat group also featured a Type 055 large destroyer, a Type 052D destroyer, a Type 054A frigate, and a Type 901 comprehensive supply ship. This is significant as this would mean the training had "full combat elements," like in a war, according to Chinese military experts.

"The naval air force fired tens of missiles and readily tested the capabilities of weapons and equipment and the troops' standard of training. The troops' core combat capability had increased," the Southern Naval Command added.

Just like the Liaoning carrier group, China's first aircraft carrier, more vessels are likely to join Shandong's carrier group once it gains more capabilities. Chinese experts also predict that a nuclear-powered attack submarine would also be part of an aircraft carrier group.

Meanwhile, China has announced that it will hold two days of live-fire drills off the coast of Fujian Province across from Taiwan. The latest round of drills is scheduled for Friday and Saturday near Fuqing and Putian, across the Taiwan Strait from north Taiwan. The Chinese province's Maritime Safety Administration has banned ships from entering the area during those times.

This comes as the PLA continues its military posturing around the island. According to Taiwanese authorities, over 15 Chinese military aircraft and four naval ships were tracked near Taiwan on Thursday. Of the 15 PLA aircraft, five crossed the median line in the Taiwan Strait, including three Sukhoi Su-30 fighter jets and two Xian JH-7 fighter bombers.