Liaoning deployed for drills in Western Pacific

The People's Liberation Army Navy has sent its CNS Liaoning aircraft carrier and escort ships to carry out open-sea training and exercises in the Western Pacific Ocean. The PLA Navy said in a brief statement on Tuesday morning that a carrier task group led by the Liaoning had set sail earlier in the day for relevant waters in the Western Pacific to conduct long-distance tactical flight training, live-fire exercises, combat support drills, and joint search and rescue training. The deployment is intended to test and enhance the realistic combat training capabilities of the forces. It is a routine arrangement based on an annual training plan, and complies with international law and practice, according to the Navy. The Liaoning is China's first aircraft carrier, having served for nearly 14 years. It usually carries dozens of J-15 fighter jets in deployment, and is widely believed to be capable of supporting operations of the J-35 stealth fighters. In an ocean-bound deployment, a Chinese carrier group consists of an aircraft carrier, several Type 055 and Type 052D destroyers, some Type 054A frigates, as well as a large supply vessel.

CCG hosts Asian meeting on security

The 22nd Heads of Asian Coast Guard Agencies Meeting Working Level Meeting opened on Tuesday in Quanzhou, Fujian province, aiming to deepen mutual trust and practical cooperation in tackling maritime security challenges. The four-day event, hosted by the China Coast Guard, has brought together more than 50 foreign delegates. They represent maritime law enforcement agencies from 18 countries and regions, as well as two international organizations — the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime and the Information Sharing Centre of the Regional Cooperation Agreement on Combating Piracy and Armed Robbery against Ships in Asia. During the meeting, participants will conduct in-depth consultations on key topics including preventing and combating illegal maritime activities, maritime search and rescue, and marine ecological environmental protection. They will also explore emerging issues such as law enforcement related to marine carbon sinks, sea lane security and maritime counterterrorism.

China Daily