Liaoning Aircraft Carrier Group Conducts Training in Relevant Waters of the Western Pacific, Rarely Announces Training Subjects in Advance, Ministry of Defense Responds

On the afternoon of May 28, the Ministry of Defense held a regular press conference, where Major General Jiang Bin, the spokesperson for the Ministry of Defense, answered reporters' questions.

Reporter: 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, and unusually announced the training subjects in advance, including live-fire exercises. In response to this training, some media commented that the Liaoning's new combat capabilities are facing a "big test." What is your response to this?

Jiang Bin: Regarding the Liaoning aircraft carrier group's training in the Western Pacific, we have released relevant information; this is routine training conducted according to the annual plan. Since its commissioning, the Liaoning has orderly organized a series of comprehensive drills as planned, deepening and expanding the carrier group's training for operations in distant seas, thereby forming a system of combat capabilities. As a "pathfinder" for China's aircraft carrier development and a "hatchery" for aircraft carrier talent, the Liaoning has played an irreplaceable and important role in enhancing the combat effectiveness of the Chinese Navy and will continue to make greater contributions to the Chinese Navy's journey into the deep blue, safeguarding national sovereignty, security, development interests, and world peace and stability.