The People’s Liberation Army Navy’s Liaoning Carrier Strike Group is operating in the Philippine Sea east of Luzon, Japan’s Joint Staff Office said Tuesday.
The Liaoning Carrier Strike Group was spotted Monday around 880 kilometers southwest of Okinotori Island, Japan’s southernmost territory. Aircraft carrier CNS Liaoning (16) was conducting flight operations Tuesday, according to Japan’s Joint Staff Office, which released a map of the group operating in the Philippine Sea, east of the main island of Luzon. The group includes Liaoning, cruiser CNS Wuxi (104), destroyer CNS Kaifeng (124), frigate CNS Luohe (545) and fast combat support ship CNS Hulunhu (901).
Luohe and Hulunhu sailed May 19 between Miyako Island and Okinawa, traveling southeast, Japan’s Joint Staff Office said. Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force destroyer JS Asahi (DD-119) shadowed the Liaoning CSG.
The Chinese carrier strike group departed May 19 for a Western Pacific deployment, according to an announcement from the PLAN.
“On May 19, the PLA Navy sent a carrier task group led by PLAN’s Liaoning to relevant waters of the Western Pacific to conduct training on such subjects as far-seas tactical flight, live firing, support and cover, and integrated search and rescue, so as to test and enhance the realistic combat training capabilities of the forces. This is a routine training organized in accordance with the annual plan, which aims to enhance the military’s capability to fulfill its missions, and is fully in compliance with international law and practice,” reads the announcement.
The Liaoning CSG likely entered the Philippine Sea via the Luzon Strait between the Philippines and Taiwan, which extends nearly 200 miles. Neither the Philippines nor Taiwan have made an official statement on the carrier strike group’s transit, though Joseph Wu, Taiwan National Security Council Secretary General, acknowledged in a social media post Monday that Taiwan had sighted the Liaoning CSG in the Western Pacific.
Aircraft carrier USS George Washington (CVN-73) is also operating in the Philippine Sea, having departed Saturday from Commander Fleet Activities Yokosuka to conduct carrier qualification training ahead of its spring patrol.
The fixed-wing squadrons from Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 5 are training off the main island of Kyushu through May 30, according to the Iwakuni City Council. The training is the final stage towards certifying pilots and aircraft of the fixed wing squadrons of CVW-5 for an underway.
Immediately after concluding the training, George Washington will begin its spring patrol.
George Washington departed Saturday, according to the Yokosuka City Council. The patrol will be George Washington’s first for the year. Last year, the carrier conducted a two-part patrol, from June 10-Aug. 30 and Sept. 30-Dec. 11. George Washington returned to Yokosuka on Oct. 18 to host a joint event with President Donald Trump and Japan Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi before continuing its patrol.
Cruiser USS Robert Smalls (CG-62) departed Friday from Yokosuka ahead of the carrier, according to photographs by Japanese ship spotters. The patrol may be the cruiser’s last before it shifts homeport to San Diego, Calif.
Robert Smalls will be replaced as a George Washington escort by destroyer USS Mustin (DDG-89), which arrived March 23 at CFAY to join Destroyer Squadron (DESRON) 15. The Navy has not announced when exactly Robert Smalls will depart from Japan.
