A fleet of the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) Navy led by the aircraft carrier Shandong arrived in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) . Photo by LIU FANG / XINHUA / EPA
May 19 (Asia Today) -- China deployed an aircraft carrier strike group into the Western Pacific for military exercises days after a summit between Chinese President Xi Jinping and U.S. President Donald Trump in Beijing, highlighting Beijing's effort to maintain a visible military presence in the region.
According to China's state-run Xinhua News Agency, the Chinese People's Liberation Army Navy on Monday dispatched the carrier group led by the Liaoning into the Western Pacific for a series of drills.
The exercises included long-range tactical flight operations, live-fire exercises, support and escort missions and integrated search-and-rescue training, the report said.
The People's Liberation Army described the drills as part of its regular annual training program aimed at improving combat readiness and operational capabilities. Chinese military officials also said the exercises complied with international law and common international practices.
