Chinese Aircraft Carrier Operating Near the Philippines

October 2, 2024 5:06 PM
Chinese carrier Liaoning. JSDF Photo

The Chinese Liaoning Carrier Strike Group is now operating southeast of the Philippine main island of Mindanao and heading toward the Celebes Sea, based on the latest release by Japan’s Joint Staff Office.

Meanwhile, the Marine Corps announced on Wednesday that Marine Rotational Force – Southeast Asia (MRF-SEA) has arrived in the Philippines to begin a six month deployment.

On Wednesday, the JSO issued a release stating that the Japanese Maritime Self Defense Force (JMSDF) had confirmed a number of PLAN ships including aircraft carrier CNS Liaoning (16) were operating in the Philippine Sea since Sept. 20. The JSO had earlier issued a report detailing the composition of the Liaoning CSG and its activities from Sept. 20-26, with Wednesday’s release updating the activities and composition of the CSG from Friday to Tuesday.

The release also stated that from Friday to Tuesday, Liaoning carried out 130 launches and recoveries of its fighter aircraft and 90 take-offs and landings by its embarked helicopters for a total of 220 sorties and 630 sorties in total since Sept. 20.

From Tuesday to Wednesday, Liaoning and several PLAN ships sailed southwest in the waters east of the Philippines, according to the release. A map of the Liaoning CSG’s movement showed its last position as southeast of the Philippin main island Mindanao and approaching the Celebes Sea. The release stated that destroyers JS Asahi (DD-119) and JS Kirisame (DD-104) shadowed the CSG. Kirisame likely relieved Asahi, which had been shadowing the PLAN CSG since Sept. 20.

The location of the Liaoning CSG for each day is listed below as relative to the distance from Okinotorishima, an atoll in the Philippine Sea administered by Japan and located midway between Taiwan and Guam.

Date: Friday, Sept. 27
Position: 745 miles southwest of Okinotorishima
Carrier: Liaoning
Destroyer: CNS Chengdu (120)

Date: Saturday, Sept. 28
Position: 459 miles southwest of Okinotorishima
Carrier: Liaoning
Destroyer: Chengdu

Date: Sunday, Sept. 29
Position: 391 miles south of Okinotorishima
Carrier: Liaoning

Date: Monday, Sept. 30
Position: 689 miles south of Okinotorishima
Carrier: Liaoning
Destroyer: CNS Urumqi (118)

Date: Tuesday, Oct. 1
Position: 944 miles southwest of Okinotorishima
Carrier: Liaoning
Cruiser: CNS Anshan (103)
Destroyers: Urumqi, Chengdu and CNS Huainan (123)
Fast Combat Support Ship: CNS Hulunhu (901)

Meanwhile on Wednesday, the Marine Corps issued a release stating that U.S. Marines and sailors from I Marine Expeditionary Force (MEF) have arrived in the Philippines as part of the third-annual rotational deployment of MRF-SEA, with the force beginning its six-month deployment in the region by participating in Philippine military exercises Sama Sama 2024 and Kamandag 8 from Oct. 7-24.

The release added that the MRF-SEA deployment continues through March 2025 and includes six additional exercises and security cooperation engagements throughout Southeast Asia. This includes training alongside the Philippine Marine Corps, the Malaysian Army, the Indonesian Marine Corps, the Royal Brunei Land Forces, the Singapore Armed Forces and the Royal Thai Armed Forces.

“This annual rotational deployment of Marines is designed to build upon cooperative relationships with important regional Allies and partners, increasing effective interoperability, maintaining U.S. Marine Corps forces in the region, and contributing to freedom within the Indo-Pacific,” read the release.

The 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) command element will lead MRF-SEA throughout this six-month rotation and vary the force’s size and composition to execute each of the eight planned exercises, according to the release. Elements from 1st Air Naval Gunfire Liaison Company, I MEF Information Group and 1st Marine Division will composite with the rotational force to achieve each exercise’s purpose and maintain U.S. Marine forces in Southeast Asia.

“Marine Rotational Force-Southeast Asia is deploying to the Indo-Pacific region to train and operate alongside our Allies and partners,” said Col. Stuart W. Glenn, commanding officer, MRF-SEA, in the release. “The Marine Corps is committed to preserving the freedom of the region and its people. We train together to strengthen our relationships and collective capabilities, and the intent of MRF-SEA is to cultivate and reinforce the common values and capabilities between our partners and to preserve a rules-based international order.”

 

 

Dzirhan Mahadzir

Dzirhan Mahadzir

Dzirhan Mahadzir is a freelance defense journalist and analyst based in Kuala Lumpur Malaysia. Among the publications he has written for and currently writes for since 1998 includes Defence Review Asia, Jane’s Defence Weekly, Navy International, International Defence Review, Asian Defence Journal, Defence Helicopter, Asian Military Review and the Asia-Pacific Defence Reporter.

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