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By Ryan Chan
China News Reporter
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The Chinese state media claimed that the country's first domestically built aircraft carrier is now capable of conducting "round-the-clock operations" in complex weather conditions.
Why It Matters
According to the Pentagon's annual report on Chinese military power, which was released last month, the Chinese navy remains the largest in the world by hull count, with over 370 ships and submarines, including two aircraft carriers, CNS Liaoning and CNS Shandong.
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The Soviet-built Liaoning is the first operational aircraft carrier in China, which was put into service in 2012. The Shandong, which shares similarities to the Liaoning, has served the navy since 2019. A third and the most advanced aircraft carrier is yet to be commissioned.
In 2023, the Shandong operated outside the first island chain in the Western Pacific Ocean three times, a record number for the Chinese navy in a calendar year. The island chain is a blockade formed by Japan, Taiwan, and the Philippines under a United States defense concept.
What To Know
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Xinhua News Agency reported on Tuesday that Shandong recently concluded its final sea training mission for 2024. It was spotted pier side at its home port on Hainan Island, which faces the South China Sea, as of December 22, according to Newsweek's weekly update.
The report claimed that since its commission, the Shandong has continuously enhanced its combat capabilities, which included a substantial reduction in carrier-based aircraft release guarantee time, as well as an improvement in readiness for consecutive aircraft sorties.
Alex Luck, an Australia-based naval analyst, explained to Newsweek that the Shandong, which has a revised design over the Liaoning, features a range of improvements aimed at improving its aviation sortie rate and generally improving conditions for aviation operations.
"PLAN [People's Liberation Army Navy] may want to focus on utilizing both carriers [the Liaoning and the Shandong] to maximum effect getting carrier aviation units through their training regime," Luck added, referencing the official name of the Chinese navy.
The report also mentioned that China has entered the "dual aircraft carrier" era, following the commission of the Shandong. In late October last year, the Liaoning and the Shandong sailed in formation in the South China Sea, which was the first for the Chinese navy.
Newsweek has contacted the Chinese Defense Ministry for further comment by email.
What People Are Saying
Alex Luck told Newsweek: "The other thing to watch out for is if and when either [the] Shandong or [the] Liaoning will start to launch J-35 next generation fighters, a possibility that was indicated by the presence of a J-35 mockup onboard [the] Liaoning during her overhaul in Dalian [a port city in Northeast China]."
A Chinese military observer, who requested anonymity due to the sensitive nature of the topic, told Newsweek: "In the video of [the] Shandong's 5-year service anniversary, we saw the Shandong's flight wing conducting take off and landing training in bad weather."
What Happens Next
It remains to be seen when the Liaoning and the Shandong will conduct a second dual aircraft carrier operation in the new year, demonstrating China's naval power projection.
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