Illustrative image
The Liaoning aircraft carrier task group of the Chinese People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) reportedly crossed the Miyako Strait and passed near the disputed Diaoyu Islands on April 28th.
The picture shows the aircraft carrier Liaoning (Hull 16) and other vessels and fighter jets in the maritime parade conducted by the Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) Navy in the South China Sea on the morning of April 12, 2018. Chinese President Xi Jinping, who is also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission (CMC), reviewed the parade. (eng.chinamil.com.cn/Photo by Zhang Lei)
Map showing the location of the Senkaku/Diaoyu Islands in the East China Sea. Source: The Asia-Pacific Journal
According to Japan’s Ministry of Defense Joint Staff, the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force spotted a PLAN flotilla passing through waters between Japanese Okinawa Island and Miyako Island and sailed north toward the East China Sea on April 27th. A U.S. navy destroyer has been following the Chinese Liaoning aircraft carrier since Sunday.
Liaoning CVBG, allegedly filmed from stalking USN Warship
(via weibo @洋务先驱张之洞) pic.twitter.com/pdsEr5VM7Z— 蜜柑🍊 (@KushigumoAkane) April 17, 2021
The flotilla consisted of six warships, including the aircraft carrier Liaoning, the Type 055 large destroyer Nanchang, the Type 052D destroyers Chengdu and Taiyuan, the Type 054A frigate Huanggang and the Type 901 comprehensive supply ship Hulunhu. A Z-18 early warning helicopter from the Liaoning approached the Chiwei Islet of the Diaoyu Islands, according to the Japanese statement.
Le groupe aéronaval du porte-avions 16 Liaoning a traversé le détroit de Miyako le 27 Avril dans la matinée. Il va terminer bientôt sa tournée en Pacifique de l’ouest et en mer de Chine méridionale qui a débuté il y a un mois.
Image via 統合幕僚監部 pic.twitter.com/XbNvpbxZXL
— East Pendulum (@HenriKenhmann) April 27, 2021
The flotilla went south from the same region on April 3rd.
“Chinese military observers said it was predictable that the task group would return from its exercises near the island of Taiwan and in the South China Sea via the Miyako Strait, but it is rare to see that the carrier group sent aircraft near the Diaoyu Islands.” – Global Times reported, citing Chinese specialists.
On April 5, the PLAN announced that the Liaoning aircraft carrier task group was conducting exercises near the island of Taiwan at that time as part of annually scheduled regular training. According to the later reports, the carrier group went further south into the South China Sea for additional exercises.
The Liaoning aircraft carrier group’s recent movements serve as a warning and deterrent to Japan.
Diaoyu archipelago in the East China Sea that is de facto under Japanese control is a subject of a territorial dispute between Japan, the Taiwan and the People’s Republic of China. Recently, the US reaffirmed its commitment to the defense of Japan under their security treaty, which covers the Diaoyu Islands. Meanwhile, Chinese Coast Guard vessels’ are carrying out regular patrol activities in these waters.
Map of EEZs and International waters in the South China Sea.
The British embassy in Tokyo has recently announced that a flotilla of Royal Navy of the United Kingdom leaded by HMS Queen Elizabeth aircraft carrier would pass through Asian waters on port visits to Japan and South Korea. The decision was made after Australia had warned of threats of conflict in the region. The flotilla should be joined by US vessels and a frigate from the Netherlands in order to carry out joint exercises with Japan, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, France, the UAE, Denmark, Greece, Italy, Turkey, Israel, India, Oman and South Korea.
If U.S. can sail where it wants so can Russia and China.
I’m hoping one day a joint Sino-Russian naval fleet sailing in the Caribbean and Atlantic. I want to see what the parasites in DC will do.
Probably soil themselves…
How many chicks that follow the mother duck, even the United Emirates, this will scare a lot of China, there will also be Jens as the admiral of the great imperial fleet of Denmark, or will it be replaced by a gay immigrant?
A whole bunch of former colonial European countries. The moment they hear a shot fired, most of them are going home. UAE? south korea? – 35-40 percent of its total annual trade volume is with China (China can literally kill south korea). Japan?- war criminal country. They are all going home.
There is no more national soldiers in West. All soldiers are professional contracted and cant get away.
I guess its a part of the overall globalist scheme planned decades ago.
Thinks how shameless they are, those countries that have sacked China for more than a century, today they appear again with lies on freedom of navigation, while we know what it is, robbery handly armed, only that this time China is Well prepared and is no longer alone.
True.
An aircraft carrier that doesn’t go far from mainland, is useless. But I think China stated from beginning its first carriers are mainly for training. For when they’ll be number 1 and will have plenty of those in all oceans.
They have of cause the capacity to build, like no other nation.
Capacity yes, technoligy not yet. Their current carriers look more like the Soviet one they bought from Ukraine, than real carriers USA has.
Reminds me of Varyag somehow.
LOL Because the Liaoning (CV-16) IS the Varyag. The Chinese did a great job in restoring her.
Japan is universally despised in Asia. All Chinese remember the Nanjing massacre. Looks like China is determined to pay back for what Japan did during the invasion of China. The territorial dispute is secondary, IMO. Whichever way to look, Japan is in deep trouble. Japan has been mired in recession for the last 30 years. China’s shipbuilding won’t stop any time soon.
The sentiments of the Koreans are no different from the Chinese; probably more emotional as Korea was a Japanese colony for 35 years. I can easily see a joint force between China and Korea. Historically, the Chinese have came to the aid of Koreans whenever the Japanese attempted to invade the peninsula.
Trying to gobble more gold and landmasses. Where have we seen this pattern before among tough regimes?
Circulating around the Chunxiao gas fields in Aircraft-Carrier groups with “naval drills” like bees around a honey pot. As American I know exactly what they are after!
The Jews are laughing as Japan destroys itself. Japan is still a colony of the USA/Jews.
China is very far from Philippine Sea…shame on grabber. Allied forces on its way to sink all your ships.