China’s first aircraft carrier forms ‘evolving pattern’ of voyages in disputed Asian seas

The CNS Liaoning is China’s first aircraft carrier. Completed 14 years ago, it is about 305 meters long, with a flight deck up to 75 meters wide. The ship is a visible emblem of China’s growing naval power. Its presence matters because it can operate aircraft and lead other warships beyond China’s immediate coastline.

The Liaoning uses a short take-off but arrested recovery design. Aircraft take off from its flight deck and land using arresting equipment. During the October voyage, the carrier launched and recovered aircraft while operating with two large destroyers and a guided-missile destroyer. This combination creates a mobile naval task group.

The carrier projects power through repeated deployments, training, and constant presence in near and far seas. Carl Thayer said it demonstrates China’s military capability and political influence. Its older age limits its frontline role, but its operations still help China show reach near disputed waters and train its wider fleet.

The Liaoning’s October voyage was described by China’s navy as a far-seas training deployment. It began on October 14, when the carrier led a naval task group into the western Pacific Ocean. Xinhua called it part of an annual routine plan designed to test and improve combat readiness.

The group included the Liaoning, two large destroyers, and a guided-missile destroyer. By October 23, it had conducted exercises near Japan’s southernmost outlying islands. Japanese officials reported aircraft taking off and landing from the carrier about 250 kilometers south of Ishigaki Island.

The group was then headed toward the South China Sea near the Philippines. Reports said it launched and recovered aircraft inside Japan’s maritime exclusive economic zone. Xinhua said the movements followed international law and were not aimed at any particular country or target. The voyage therefore combined training, travel, and a highly visible regional presence.

China’s emerging carrier pattern is both repeated and geographically broad. The Liaoning had made at least six faraway deployments since its completion 14 years ago, then sailed again in October. Analysts now presume the navy has developed a routine for using the aging carrier in regular far-seas training.

The October deployment reached the western Pacific, operated near Japan’s southernmost islands, and moved toward the South China Sea near the Philippines. The carrier group also included three major escort ships: two large destroyers and one guided-missile destroyer. Japanese officials observed aircraft operations about 250 kilometers south of Ishigaki Island.

The pattern matters because the Liaoning is not acting alone or staying near China’s coast. Its repeated voyages provide practice in flight operations, sensors, aircraft, and task-group movement. Experts believe the deployments help China’s newer carriers, the nine-year-old Shandong and the more modern Fujian, adopt and validate technology for wider operations.

Carrier movements near Taiwan, Japan, and the Philippines attract concern because each has a political or maritime sovereignty dispute with China. A carrier is a powerful symbol and a mobile military platform. Its presence can therefore signal capability and influence even when officials describe the mission as routine training.

The Liaoning’s group operated near Japan’s southernmost islands and moved toward the South China Sea near the Philippines. China claims Taiwan and has not ruled out force to take it. In the South China Sea, Brunei, Malaysia, the Philippines, and Vietnam dispute areas claimed by Beijing. Japan also disputes uninhabited islets with China.

The timing added sensitivity. The voyage began shortly before the Keen Sword 27 U.S.-Japan exercises, which included the Philippines among other nations. Taiwan monitored the possibility of large-scale Chinese exercises. These overlapping activities increase attention, even though Xinhua said the carrier’s movements targeted no specific country.

An older carrier can remain useful as a training and development platform. The Liaoning is China’s oldest carrier and would not be the frontline reaction force in a contingency, according to Alexander Huang. That leaves it suited to repeated exercises where crews and systems can gain experience without relying only on newer ships.

During deployments, the Liaoning can test flight operations, sensors, and modern aircraft. Collin Koh said the Shandong could learn about new and emerging technology while the older carrier carries out those trials. He described Shandong as basically an improved version of Liaoning and called the voyage a possible technology-validation mission.

This creates a learning path for China’s carrier fleet. The Liaoning supplies operating experience, while the Shandong and Fujian represent newer capabilities. Regular far-seas voyages can improve coordination among ships and aircraft, identify problems, and help China equip its newer carriers. The article presents this as an evolving training pattern rather than a frontline combat deployment.

Carrier operations near disputed waters change the security environment by placing a mobile Chinese military force close to countries that contest Beijing’s claims. Even when described as training, such voyages demonstrate reach, support China’s political influence, and require neighboring governments to monitor aircraft and ships closely.

The October group operated near Japan’s southernmost islands, launched and recovered aircraft about 250 kilometers south of Ishigaki, and moved toward the South China Sea near the Philippines. Its activity began shortly before Keen Sword 27, a U.S.-Japan exercise that included the Philippines. China regards the United States as a military rival in Asia.

These overlaps can intensify strategic signaling and surveillance. Taiwan monitored possible large-scale Chinese exercises, while Japan tracked carrier aircraft. The article does not report a confrontation. However, repeated deployments near disputed areas and allied exercises make regional military activity more visible and potentially more sensitive, while China continues presenting the voyages as lawful routine training.

A maritime exclusive economic zone, or EEZ, is a sea area extending up to 200 nautical miles from a coastal state’s baseline under widely accepted law of the sea. The coastal state has special rights to explore, exploit, conserve, and manage natural resources there. It also has jurisdiction over certain artificial islands, installations, marine research, and environmental protection.

An EEZ is not the same as territorial waters. Other states generally retain freedoms of navigation and overflight, along with related lawful uses of the sea. Military activity in an EEZ is legally debated internationally, but the zone does not automatically give the coastal state complete control over every foreign naval operation. Resource extraction and installations must respect the coastal state’s rights.

The article says the Liaoning group launched and recovered aircraft in Japan’s EEZ, calling that uncommon. Xinhua said the movements complied with international law. The episode shows why EEZ operations can draw attention: they may be lawful while still raising security and interpretation concerns.