Chinese aircraft carrier CNS Shandong (17) sailed into the Philippine Sea accompanied by two escorts and conducted flight operations there on Monday, according to a Japan Joint Staff Office (JSO) release.
This is the third time that Shandong has deployed to the Philippine Sea this year. Meanwhile, People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) ships and a Chinese unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) have been operating around Japan’s southwest islands over the past week. On Monday in Indonesia, the Russian and Indonesian navies began their first ever bilateral naval exercise with Russia deploying a surface action group for the drills.
On Monday at 11 a.m., the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF) confirmed Shandong, together with cruiser CNS Yan’an (106) and destroyer CNS Zhanjiang (165), were sailing in an area 447 miles south of Miyako Island. A map included with the release showed the PLAN carrier strike group (CSG) located east of the northeast tip of the Philippine main island of Luzon.
Shandong launched and recovered fighters and helicopters. JMSDF destroyer JS Yugiri (DD-153) surveilled the Chinese strike group, according to the release.
The Shandong CSG had previously deployed to the Philippine Sea Jul. 9-18 before returning to its homeport. The carrier deployed briefly to the Philippine Sea Aug. 12-13. The PLAN has been increasing its carrier activities this year following CNS Liaoning’s (16) return in March from refurbishment. Last week, China announced the first-ever dual-carrier operations drill in late October. The increased activities come ahead of the expected transfer of the carrier air wing to carrier Fujian (18), which is currently undergoing sea trials and will operate a larger air wing than Liaoning and Shandong.
The PLAN Dongdiao-class surveillance ship Beijixing (791) was sighted at 5 p.m. on Wednesday sailing west in an area 43 miles northeast of Tanegashima Island and entered the East China Sea. Destroyer Yugiri and training support ship JS Tenryu (ATS-4203) shadowed the PLAN ship, according to the release.
On Friday at 9 a.m., PLAN destroyer CNS Kaifeng (124) and frigate CNS Xiangtan (531) were sighted sailing southeast in an area 80 miles northeast of Miyako Island, according to a JSO release that day. The release stated the two PLAN ships sailed south between Okinawa and Miyako Island to enter the Philippine Sea. Destroyer JS Asagiri (DD-151), fleet oiler JS Towada (AOE-422) and a JMSDF P-3C Orion maritime patrol aircraft (MPA) from Fleet Air Wing 5 based at Naha Air Base, Okinawa, shadowed the PLAN ships, according to the release.
On Sunday, the JSO issued a release stating that between the morning and afternoon of that day, a Chinese TB-001 UAV flew in from the East China Sea, passed between Okinawa and Miyako Island and flew south into the Philippine Sea before returning the same way to enter the East China Sea. The release added that in response, the Japan Air Self-Defense Force’s (JASDF) Southwestern Air Defense Command scrambled fighter jets to respond.
On Monday, the Indonesian and Russian navies formally began their joint naval exercise Orruda 2024 with an opening ceremony at the Indonesian Navy’s 2nd Fleet Command headquarters at Surabaya, Java, Indonesia. The exercise, which will end on Friday, is taking place in Surabaya and the Java Sea to strengthen strategic cooperation and improve the operational capabilities of the two navies, according to an Indonesian Navy release. The Russian Navy is participating with a Russian Navy Pacific Fleet surface action group consisting of corvettes RFS Gromkiy (335), RFS Hero of the Russian Federation Aldar Tsydenzhapov (339) and RFS Rezkiy (343) and fleet oiler Pechanga, which are on an Asia Pacific deployment with rescue tug Alatau also joining the drills. The Indonesian Navy will deploy frigate KRI I Gusti Ngurah Rai (332) and corvette KRI Frans Kaisiepo (368) for the drills.
