China’s 2nd aircraft carrier conducts exercises in South China Sea

The Shandong, the second aircraft carrier of the Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) Navy, recently set out for realistic combat-oriented drills in the South China Sea, in a move experts said on Sunday will enhance its capabilities.

Since reports suggested that the Liaoning, the PLA Navy’s first aircraft carrier, is also currently undertaking drills in the Pacific Ocean, observers are looking forward to seeing the Liaoning and the Shandong form a dual carrier group for the first time in the not-too-distant future.

The Shandong embarked on a voyage to an undisclosed area in the South China Sea in early winter for realistic combat-oriented exercises including the arrested landing of fighter jets, damage control and maritime search and rescue, the People’s Daily reported on Sunday.

Wei Dongxu, a Beijing-based military expert, told the Global Times on Sunday that the domestically built aircraft carrier is constantly enhancing its combat capabilities with the naval warfare of the 21st century in mind.