"Breaking the Situation: Navy Officially Announces Liaoning Aircraft Carrier with Live Ammunition Heading to Western Pacific for Training, Experts Analyze Highlights"

[Global Times - Global Network Report by reporter Guo Yuandan] The WeChat public account "People's Navy" announced on the morning of the 19th that on May 19, the People's Liberation Army Navy organized the Liaoning aircraft carrier group to conduct training in relevant waters of the Western Pacific. The official announcement rarely disclosed the training subjects of this exercise in advance, including live-fire shooting, support and cover, etc. Military experts interviewed by the Global Times stated that it can be seen from the announcement that this long-range training is not aimed at specific targets, but the core mission of the PLA is to defend the homeland and safeguard national sovereignty, security, and development interests. Therefore, this exercise will form a strong deterrent against certain countries with ulterior motives and "Taiwan independence" separatist forces.

"As aircraft carriers, whether it is the Liaoning, Shandong, or Fujian, to enhance their mission capabilities, they are destined to conduct training in the far seas." Military expert Zhang Junsha told the Global Times on the 19th that the mission of China's three active aircraft carriers is, on one hand, to enhance territorial defense capabilities, to conduct maritime defense operations at greater distances, and to keep enemies outside the national borders. On the other hand, it is to improve the operational capabilities in the far seas, safeguarding national overseas interests and the security of maritime passages. "The Liaoning aircraft carrier group conducting long-range training in the Western Pacific has become a routine." Zhang Junsha stated.

Although long-range training in the Western Pacific has become routine, the official does not disclose the Liaoning's related actions every time, and it is rare to publicly announce information at the beginning of the activity. In this regard, Zhang Junsha analyzed that this itself is a signal, as the outside world, especially Japan, has been highly concerned about the actions of China's aircraft carriers, and it cannot be ruled out that they may hype the intentions of the PLA's actions in advance. Therefore, the People's Navy released information in advance to fully demonstrate openness and transparency, "which can squeeze the space for hype by Japan and certain countries."

The Japanese side is quite adept at such hype. In the draft of Japan's 2026 Defense White Paper released on the 16th, they openly hyped that "in June 2025, the Chinese Navy will deploy two aircraft carriers in the Pacific for the first time, and there will be instances of aircraft 'unusually approaching' Self-Defense Force planes." They continue to exaggerate the "China threat," incorporating China's long-range training in the Pacific into their alert targets.

In the official announcement released on the 19th, the People's Navy reiterated, "This is a routine training organized according to the annual plan, aimed at continuously improving mission capabilities, in accordance with relevant international laws and practices."

"The training of the Chinese Navy's aircraft carrier group in relevant far seas fully complies with international law and international practices." Zhang Junsha stated that other countries' naval aircraft carriers and fleets have long been training in the Western Pacific near Japan, and Japan has even actively invited India, as well as European countries like the UK, France, and Germany, to conduct exercises in waters near Japan. Meanwhile, Japan has overreacted to the Chinese Navy's long-range training in the Western Pacific, making unfounded accusations. This is not genuine anxiety but a "double standard," viewing the development and long-range training of the Chinese Navy through "colored glasses," which is not a normal mindset.

Another "highlight" of this official announcement is the rare disclosure of training subjects in advance, including long-range tactical flight, live-fire shooting, support and cover, comprehensive rescue, and other exercises, especially live-fire shooting, which is significantly different from previous descriptions. Previously, the most common description of the Liaoning aircraft carrier group's long-range training in the Western Pacific was "combat-oriented" training. Regarding this change, Zhang Junsha believes, "It cannot be ruled out that the scale of live-fire shooting conducted in the Western Pacific is relatively large, with a higher degree of combat realism, closer to actual combat."

This military expert analyzed that live-fire shooting is different from simulated shooting; the former is more challenging, with a stronger atmosphere of actual combat, and the verification of tactics and effectiveness is also more accurate. "Live-fire shooting will significantly enhance the combat readiness and operational capabilities of the troops," Zhang Junsha stated.

According to public reports, in 2016, the Chinese Navy organized and implemented actual weapon training for the aircraft carrier group. The current live-fire shooting in the Western Pacific is significantly different from previous live-fire shooting conducted in near-sea areas. Zhang Junsha explained that the marine environment, weather conditions, and hydrological conditions in the far seas differ greatly from those in near-sea areas like the Bohai Sea, posing stricter tests on the performance of ships and weaponry, and requiring higher levels of command control and personnel operation. "Therefore, long-range live-fire training plays a positive role in testing and improving the combat effectiveness of naval forces and enhancing long-range operational capabilities," Zhang Junsha stated.

Another noteworthy training subject is "support and cover." Zhang Junsha further explained that this subject involves coordinated operations and support cover exercises between the aircraft carrier group's ships and aircraft, with the main goal of ensuring the safety of the group, enhancing air defense and missile defense capabilities, and improving its maritime survivability. On the other hand, it involves providing support and cover for other ships, such as amphibious landing groups, where the aircraft carrier group first secures air and sea dominance to cover the landing operations.

The PLA's normal training activities often attract attention from "Taiwan independence" forces. According to a report by Reuters on the 19th, the so-called "Executive Yuan" of the Taiwan authorities, led by Su Tseng-chang, absurdly claimed that "military exercises affect navigation safety and are the biggest source of regional instability."

In response, Zhang Junsha rebutted that from the Navy's announcement, it can be seen that this long-range training is not aimed at specific targets, but the aircraft carrier group itself possesses air defense and missile defense, anti-ship strike, and land strike capabilities, which are continuously improving. This will form a strong deterrent against "Taiwan independence" separatist forces, ultimately benefiting the maintenance of regional peace and stability, as well as safeguarding national sovereignty, security, and development interests. "Only those with ulterior motives would take it personally."