[Source/Observer Network, Wang Shihua] After a week's interval, the Japanese Ministry of Defense Joint Staff announced information about our Liaoning aircraft carrier on June 8. The Joint Staff stated that the Chinese Navy's Liaoning aircraft carrier strike group had broken through the second island chain for the first time and arrived at the waters southwest of South Bird Island, which is to the east of the sulfur islands and the southernmost area near Japan's easternmost islands.
It is worth noting that the Joint Staff did not release the dynamics of our Liaoning aircraft carrier strike group from June 1 to June 7.
On June 8, Japan's Kyodo News and other media commented that this was the first appearance of China's navy Liaoning aircraft carrier strike group near the second island chain and in the waters near South Bird Island, Japan's easternmost island. Reuters also commented that the Chinese aircraft carrier made its deepest voyage towards the Pacific direction last weekend, demonstrating the growing capabilities of China's naval operations at sea.
A map possibly showing the movements of our Liaoning aircraft carrier drawn by Weibo user @Mu Xing Guan Hai Tian. It is currently unclear whether the Liaoning aircraft carrier has circumnavigated Guam. Weibo @Mu Xing Guan Hai Tian
The Liaoning aircraft carrier, as photographed by the Japanese side.
The Japanese Joint Staff announced on August 8th that the Liaoning aircraft carrier strike group, including the Type 052D destroyer Tangshan (hull number 122), the Type 055 destroyer Wuxi (hull number 104), and the Type 901 comprehensive supply ship Huolunhu, was sailing in waters about 300 kilometers southwest of South Bird Island. At the same time, the Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force confirmed that the Liaoning aircraft carrier conducted takeoff and landing operations of carrier-based fighter jets and carrier-based helicopters.
The Japanese Ministry of Defense and Self-Defense Forces have dispatched the "Miyabe" class guided missile destroyer "Haguro" (DDG-180) from the 8th Escort Division stationed in Sasebo to conduct surveillance and intelligence gathering on our aircraft carrier strike group.
According to the route map published by the Japanese Joint Staff, the Liaoning aircraft carrier conducted carrier-based fighter jet and helicopter takeoff and landing operations in the East China Sea during the period of May 25th (Sunday) to May 26th (Monday). On May 27th (Tuesday), it sailed southeast through the waters between Okinawa Main Island and Miyako Island. From May 27th (Tuesday) to May 29th (Thursday), it conducted carrier-based fighter jet and helicopter takeoff and landing operations in the Pacific Ocean. Subsequently, on May 30th (Friday), it sailed south in the Pacific Ocean east of the Philippines.
It is worth mentioning that there was a seven-day gap in Japan's announcements regarding the Liaoning aircraft carrier's movements from June 1st to June 6th. Neither Japanese media nor the Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force provided any explanation. According to the navigation chart drawn by the Japanese side, the last recorded movement of the Liaoning aircraft carrier was continuing southward on May 30th. Then on June 7th, the Liaoning aircraft carrier and several accompanying ships suddenly appeared southwest of South Bird Island, about 300 kilometers away. On June 8th, the Liaoning aircraft carrier strike group appeared approximately 400 kilometers southeast of the sulfur islands, with the fleet located about 1050 kilometers north of Guam.
Regarding the reason for the missing information about the Liaoning aircraft carrier, military commentator of the Observer Network believes that this might be because after May 30th, as the Liaoning aircraft carrier moved further away from Japan's so-called "economic zone," the JMSDF's 12th Escort Group's destroyer "Kagero" (DD-158) stopped tracking our aircraft carrier strike group and returned to its home port, resulting in the Japanese side lacking relevant dynamic information about our aircraft carrier. It wasn't until June 7th when the Liaoning aircraft carrier strike group reapproached Japan and the JMSDF dispatched the destroyer "Haguro" to track and monitor our formation that they regained information about our aircraft carrier's movements.
This is the farthest recorded navigation of our navy's aircraft carrier strike group by foreign entities. Japanese media widely reported this event under headlines such as "China's aircraft carrier reaches the periphery of the second island chain, arriving at Japan's easternmost island." Reuters also commented that as China continues to project military power into more distant oceans, the deep voyage of the Chinese aircraft carrier towards the Pacific region last weekend represents the latest manifestation of China's naval capabilities.
South Bird Island is Japan's so-called easternmost island, located over 1800 kilometers away from Tokyo but still under the jurisdiction of Tokyo Metropolis. During World War II, meteorological stations and supply stations were established on South Bird Island by the Imperial Japanese Army. On March 4, 1942, then U.S. Navy Rear Admiral Halsey led an air raid on South Bird Island from the Enterprise aircraft carrier. In October 1943, two "Essex"-class aircraft carriers were dispatched by the U.S. to participate in combat operations at South Bird Island. This was the first combat mission for the "Essex"-class aircraft carriers.
In addition to the Liaoning aircraft carrier, since May, the Japanese Joint Staff has confirmed that at least three Type 055 guided missile destroyers, three Type 052D guided missile destroyers, and four Type 054A guided missile frigates have been active in the Pacific beyond the first island chain. Among these, the surface warships accompanying the Liaoning aircraft carrier strike group include the Type 055 destroyer Nanchang (hull number 101), Wuxi; Type 052D destroyer Qiqihar (hull number 121), and Tangshan; and Type 054A missile frigate Yantai (hull number 538).
Despite being close to Guam, the U.S. military has not responded or commented on the activities of the Liaoning aircraft carrier.
Currently, the U.S. aircraft carrier fleet is not in the Guam direction. Satellite images on June 8th showed that the "Nimitz" aircraft carrier was operating west of Luzon Island in the Philippines, near our Scarborough Shoal and the Philippine side. The "Washington" (CVN-73) completed trials in the Shikoku area and returned to Yokosuka Base to prepare for summer deployment.
A commercial satellite image captured by Weibo user @Miengshang MizarVision shows the U.S. Navy's Nimitz aircraft carrier fleet operating near the Philippines. Weibo @Miengshang MizarVision
In response to external hype about our Liaoning aircraft carrier exercises, the Chinese Ministry of National Defense has already made a statement.
On May 29th, the Ministry of National Defense held a regular press conference, where Major General Zhang Xiaogang, spokesperson for the Ministry of National Defense, answered questions from reporters. A reporter asked, "The Japanese Ministry of Defense announced that China's aircraft carrier, Liaoning, recently conducted takeoff and landing drills in the East China Sea. Japanese Self-Defense Force officials said that similar activities have been carried out before, but this time it was closer to Japan, so the Ministry of Defense decided to disclose it, which is the first time such information has been disclosed externally. What comments does the spokesperson have on this?"
General Zhang Xiaogang stated that the training of the Liaoning aircraft carrier strike group in the relevant sea areas was not targeted at specific countries or targets and was in accordance with international law and practice. The actions of the Japanese side were somewhat overreacting.
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Original article: https://www.toutiao.com/article/7513788209206280730/
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