The Liaoning carrier group made a feint into the Western Pacific before entering the South China Sea
On the 15th, Japan’s Defense Ministry’s Joint Staff Headquarters updated the latest movements of China’s Liaoning aircraft carrier group.
To some surprise, after passing through the Miyako Strait into the Western Pacific on the 14th, the Liaoning group—comprising two Type 055 destroyers and one Type 052D destroyer—did not continue eastward into deeper waters of the Pacific Ocean. Instead, it proceeded south along the southern side of Miyako Island and entered the South China Sea via the Bashi Strait, raising the possibility of military exercises in the region.
Additionally, as expected, imagery from the so-called “official photographers” did not capture any visible presence of the J-35 fighter jet, making it impossible to confirm whether carrier-based operations involving the J-35 are being conducted during this long-range deployment.
According to tracking data released by the U.S. Naval Institute, the only U.S. aircraft carrier currently deployed in the Asia-Pacific region is the USS Roosevelt, operating in the Western Pacific. The USS Washington and USS Bush remain stationed in the Middle East and have not yet withdrawn.
This means that within the area encompassed by the First Island Chain, the U.S. Navy currently has no operational aircraft carrier available.
Original source: toutiao.com/article/1879113741763659/
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