World · East Asia & Pacific · 1 hr ago
Chinese and US carrier groups operate in the western Pacific
China’s Liaoning carrier group sailed south of the Philippines during a deployment that began on October 14.
The four-ship group includes the carrier and three guided-missile destroyers.
The US carrier Theodore Roosevelt is operating nearby with Japanese, Australian, Canadian and French warships during the Keen Sword exercise.
The two naval activities now overlap in the strategically important western Pacific, but there is no confirmation that the Chinese group is heading toward the exercise or will meet the US-led force.
The first island chain runs from Japan through Taiwan to the Philippines and is central to US and Chinese military planning.
Keen Sword runs from October 19 to 29 across Japan and nearby waters.
Liaoning is expected to remain deployed for several weeks, though its next movements are not stated.
China’s Liaoning carrier group sailed into waters south of the Philippines as the US-led Keen Sword exercise was taking place in the Philippine Sea.
The four-ship Chinese group includes the carrier Liaoning and three guided-missile destroyers.
The US carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt and allied warships were operating in the region for the exercise.
Reports placed the Chinese group about 46 kilometres east-southeast of Balut Island on October 23, before it turned northeast.
It is unclear whether the Chinese group was monitoring the exercise or whether the two carrier groups came close to each other.
- Who
- China’s Liaoning carrier group and the US carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt with allied warships.
- What
- The Chinese group sailed south of the Philippines while the Keen Sword exercise was underway in the Philippine Sea.
- When
- The Liaoning group’s deployment began on October 14; Keen Sword ran from October 19 to 29.
- Where
- Waters south of the Philippines and the Philippine Sea, in the western Pacific.
- Why
- China said its drills were part of its annual plan and were not aimed at any country or target. The stated purpose of Keen Sword was to improve US-Japan readiness and interoperability.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
The Liaoning group passed through the Miyako Strait and began its deployment into the western Pacific.
The Keen Sword exercise took place across Japan and surrounding waters.
BNC reported that the Liaoning group reached waters about 46 kilometres east-southeast of Balut Island and then turned northeast.
Articles reported that the Chinese carrier group and the US-led exercise were operating in the same broad region.
Yonhap reported that it remained unconfirmed whether the Chinese group was monitoring the exercise or whether the carrier groups had come close.
- Chinese carrier
- Liaoning
- Chinese group
- Four ships: Liaoning, Wuxi, Anshan and Huainan
- US carrier
- USS Theodore Roosevelt
- Reported distance from Balut Island
- About 25 nautical miles (46 kilometres)
- Keen Sword dates
- October 19–29