China's Liaoning carrier begins Western Pacific drills amid Japan tension

China's Liaoning aircraft carrier launched a series of training exercises in the western Pacific, featuring far‑sea tactical flights, live‑fire drills and carrier‑based support operations. The drills are described as routine parts of the navy’s annual plan, though the precise area was not disclosed. The carrier task group is conducting flight training east of the Miyako Strait.

The exercises follow a December training period that sparked a stand‑off when Chinese J‑15 fighters locked fire‑control radar on Japanese F‑15 jets in international airspace near Okinawa, prompting complaints from Tokyo about insufficient notice. The deployment also comes days after a summit between Chinese and U.S. leaders in Beijing, adding to regional sensitivity.

Japanese officials have expressed concern over the lack of detail in the notification, highlighting ongoing tension between the two neighbours as the carrier group operates in a strategically contested region.