The Chinese Navy's largest aircraft carrier Shandong returned to the South China Sea with its strike group

The aircraft carrier strike group led by the ship Shandong has returned to the South China Sea. This is reported by the United States Naval Institute, citing a statement by the Ministry of Self-Defence of Japan.

Here's What We Know

The aircraft carrier Shandong was in the Philippine Sea on Wednesday and Thursday. During the exercise, J-15 fighter jets and Z-18 helicopters took off from the ship's deck. By Friday, the carrier strike group had returned to the South China Sea.

The Chinese ships were monitored in the Philippine Sea by the JS Ariake (DD 109) destroyer of the Japan Navy Defence Force. The destroyers CNS Guilin (164) and CNS Changsha (173), CNS Xianning (500) and CNS Xuchang (536) and the ship CNS Chaganhu (905) operated alongside Shandong during the exercise.

Taiwan's Ministry of National Defence said Thursday that 10 Chinese ships were spotted near the island nation and 40 aircraft crossed the median line of the Taiwan Strait. Some of them entered the air defence identification zone.

Shandong is the largest aircraft carrier of the Chinese People's Liberation Army Navy. It is 315 metres long, 75 metres wide, has a displacement of 60,000 tonnes and is capable of speeds of 57 km/h.

The air group includes Z-18Y, Z-18F, Z18A, Z-8JH and Z-9S helicopters, as well as J-15D electronic warfare aircraft and J-15 fighter jets. The latter can carry YJ-83 anti-ship missiles, PL-12 anti-radar and KD-88 air-to-ground missiles. Vertical take-off and landing drones can also be deployed off-deck.

Source: USNI