No Script

Please Wait...

Al-Ahed Telegram

China Conducts First Live-fire Drills with Aircraft Carrier

China Conducts First Live-fire Drills with Aircraft Carrier
folder_openChina access_time7 years ago
starAdd to favorites

Local Editor

A Chinese naval battle group, involving a homemade aircraft carrier, conducted a live-fire drill in northeastern waters in a show of force amid an escalating war of words with the United States.

China Conducts First Live-fire Drills with Aircraft Carrier

The Chinese Defense Ministry announced on Thursday that dozens of ships and aircraft had taken part in the exercise "a few days ago" in the Bohai Sea in eastern China.

It was the first time aircraft carrier Liaoning was participating in a live-fire drill. The ships and aircraft engaged in air-to-air, air-to-sea, and sea-to-air combat drills that featured guided missiles being tested.

The ministry said the objective of the exercises was to test weapon performance and train personnel with reconnaissance and early-warning systems in air interception, sea assault, air-defense, and anti-missile maneuvers.

It posted photos of Chinese-developed J-15 fighters on the deck of the Liaoning. The aircraft carried live ammunition and performed strike exercises, it said.

The drills were held amid heightening tensions between the US and China over Washington's military presence in contested waters near China and a drama involving US President-elect Donald Trump's controversial stance on Taiwan.

Washington has taken sides in regional territorial disputes with China's rival claimants. China says Washington is deliberately escalating the situation in the territory and US patrols in the contested waters are "illegal" and "provocative."

The Chinese Defense Ministry urged the US to respect China's national sovereignty in the contested waters.

China has also recently been engaged in a war of words with Trump's administration-in-waiting.

Source: News Agencies, Edited by website team

 

Comments