The picture shows aircraft carrier Shandong berths at a naval port in Sanya. Photo: China Military

China's Shandong aircraft carrier task group recently carried out an annual training mission aimed at enhancing combat capabilities not directed at any particular country, a Chinese Defense Ministry spokesperson said on Thursday amid reports claiming that the Chinese aircraft carrier appeared in the waters north of the Philippines during a US-Philippine exercise.

A Chinese expert noted that the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA)'s training exercises involving Chinese aircraft carriers have become routine and increasingly intensive, with the goal of defending the country's security and interests.

When commenting on media reports that the Chinese aircraft carrier Shandong appeared in the waters north of the Philippines, with some analysts believing this might be a response to the Philippine-US "Balikatan" exercise, or to the Philippine patrol vessel's intruding into the waters near Huangyan Dao, Zhang Xiaogang, a spokesperson of China's Ministry of National Defense, said that the Shandong aircraft carrier task group was conducting its annual training mission in relevant waters to test and enhance its integrated combat capabilities. 

Zhang emphasized that the training aligns with international law and common practice and is not directed at any specific country or target.

Certain individuals in the Philippines are colluding with external forces such as the US, to "stir up the sea" for selfish gains, undermining peace and stability in the South China Sea region. They even attempt to play with fire on the Taiwan question. We sternly warn the Philippine side to cease its infringements and provocations, and stop offending China's core interest in any form. China will take resolute and forceful measures to defend its territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests, Zhang said.

The Shandong aircraft carrier formation's recent training mission marked its second publicly disclosed major activity within approximately a month.

On April 2, the PLA Eastern Theater Command deployed the Shandong aircraft carrier task group, in coordination with naval and air units, to conduct military drills east of Taiwan. The exercises included subjects of vessel-aircraft coordination, seizure of area air superiority and strike on ground and maritime targets so as to evaluate the troops' capabilities of integrated operations inside and outside the island chain, multi-dimensional blockade and control, and joint operations of multiple services, according to Senior Colonel Shi Yi, a spokesperson for the PLA Eastern Theater Command.

Song Zhongping, a Chinese military affairs expert, told the Global Times on Thursday that it has become routine for Chinese aircraft carriers conduct training exercises in waters both near and far away from China, and such missions are becoming increasingly intensive in regions including the South China Sea and waters to the east of the island of Taiwan, aiming to enhance capabilities to defend China's national security and interests.

Song noted that aircraft carriers should not remain idle at port but should be routinely deployed at sea for training exercises and alert duties. He added that the public should become accustomed to this practice and not overreact whenever a Chinese aircraft carrier appears in certain areas.