### Chinese Carriers Conduct Rare Dual-Carrier Drills in South China Sea

In a notable display of maritime strength, the People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) conducted dual-carrier drills involving its two aircraft carriers for the first time in the South China Sea. The maneuvers, which took place in late October, featured the CNS Liaoning (16) and CNS Shandong (17), and included a formation led by 12 carrier-based J-15 fighters and 11 PLAN surface ships.

According to Senior Colonel Zhang Xiaogang, spokesperson for China’s Ministry of National Defense, the exercises were part of the PLAN’s annual training plan. The objective was to enhance the combat capabilities of the navy's carrier strike groups (CSGs). Though the Shandong was commissioned in December 2019, the PLAN only now conducted dual-carrier operations, suggesting a phased approach in bolstering the carriers' operational readiness. The Liaoning had undergone refurbishment in February and returned to service in March 2023.

The PLAN’s need to rely solely on its own carriers for dual operations is highlighted by the ongoing overhaul of the Russian Navy’s aircraft carrier, Admiral Kuznetsov, and the lack of dual operations with navies such as those of the U.S., France, India, Italy, Japan, Spain, and the U.K.

In addition to the carriers, the formation included the cruiser CNS Anshan (103), which had been spotted in various operations preceding the dual-carrier exercises. The cruiser was last observed by the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF) operating with the Liaoning as part of the PLA’s Joint Sword 2024-B drill against Taiwan.

This year marked a new deployment pattern for the Liaoning CSG, diverging from previous routes which passed through waters between Miyako Island and Okinawa to enter the Philippine Sea. Instead, the group transited between Taiwan and Yonaguni Island before moving into the South China Sea on October 2 and docking at Hainan alongside Shandong.

Following its deployment in the western Pacific as part of the Joint Sword 2024 drills, Liaoning exited the Philippine Sea on October 15 and transited through the Taiwan Strait on October 23, as reported by Taiwan’s Ministry of National Defense.

The dual-carrier drills come amid a period of increased naval activities worldwide. Notably, the U.S. and its partners conducted several dual-carrier operations in October. The Abraham Lincoln CSG drilled with Italy’s Cavour CSG in the Middle East, while the Cavour CSG previously conducted drills in the Arabian Sea with India’s Vikramaditya CSG. The Harry S. Truman CSG also carried out exercises with the U.K. CSG in the North Sea as part of NATO drills.