China’s Liaoning carrier strike group has pushed farther east into the Pacific Ocean than in any prior deployment, conducting extensive flight operations near the Philippines and drawing close surveillance from Japanese forces.

According to Japan’s Joint Staff Office, the Liaoning strike group, including destroyers and a fleet oiler, was located as far as 640 miles south of Miyako Island and east of Samar, Philippines, between May 27–31. Over a five-day span, the Liaoning conducted 260 aircraft launch and recovery operations—140 of those in just three days—underscoring its growing operational tempo.

The group, comprising CNS Liaoning, CNS Nanchang, CNS Qiqihar, and other escorts, was also observed launching fighter jets, prompting Japan’s Air Self-Defense Force to scramble aircraft and its destroyer JS Umigiri to shadow the group.

Japan Responds as China Cites Routine Drills

China’s Ministry of National Defense dismissed Japan’s concerns, saying the operations were “routine training organized under annual plans” and not aimed at any specific country. Spokesperson Snr. Col. Zhang Xiaogang criticized Japan’s reaction as an overstatement.

The strike group’s presence so deep into the Philippine Sea signals a growing PLAN interest in asserting sea control far from its shores, particularly amid rising regional tensions.

New Destroyer Joins Show of Force

In parallel, a new Type 052D destroyer and a PLAN frigate passed between Okinawa and Miyako Island en route to the Philippine Sea. The destroyer, believed to be of the enhanced Flight IV class with upgraded radar and sonar, was trailed by Japan’s JS Tokiwa and a P-3C maritime patrol aircraft.

This marks a sustained increase in Chinese naval activity across key maritime chokepoints near Japan, Taiwan, and the Philippines.