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(Observer.com) According to the Joint Staff Office of the Japanese Ministry of Defense on the evening of August 12, on August 12, the Chinese Navy's "Shandong" shipCarrier Battle GroupThe ship appeared in the Philippine Sea 420 kilometers south of Miyako Island, accompanied by the Type 055 guided missile destroyer "Yan'an", the Type 052D guided missile destroyer "Zhanjiang" and the Type 054A guided missile frigate "Yuncheng". The Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force destroyer "Akizuki" (DD-115) participated in the surveillance.

It is worth mentioning that although the Shandong passed through the Bashi Channel south of Taiwan, the Taiwan military did not comment on the Shandong passing through the Bashi Channel. This is the second time the Shandong aircraft carrier battle group has entered the Western Pacific this year, and it is also the fifth time the Shandong has entered the Western Pacific. The escort ships this time are the same as in July.

Since this summer,ShandongAccording to a report by the Hong Kong English media South China Morning Post on June 30, satellite images released by MizarVision, a Chinese geospatial analysis company, showed that a Chinese aircraft carrier appeared in the waters near the Philippines for patrolling. It is generally believed to be China's first domestically-produced aircraft carrier, the Shandong. Analysts believe that this is to deter the United States and the Philippines and show China's determination to defend its territorial sovereignty.

Then in July, the Shandong passed through the Bashi Channel and entered the Western Pacific. According to statistics from the Japanese Joint Staff Office, from July 9 to 16, the Shandong aircraft carrier battle group continued to operate in the waters east of Taiwan Island. During this period, a total of about 240 take-offs and landings of carrier-based fighters and about 140 take-offs and landings of helicopters on the Shandong aircraft carrier were confirmed, totaling about 380 times. Then on July 18, the Japanese Ministry of Defense announced that the Chinese Navy's Shandong aircraft carrier battle group returned to the South China Sea through the Balintang Strait.

However, a month later, the "Shandong" ship appeared again near the Philippines.

The "Shandong" headed eastward into the ocean and encountered a US aircraft carrier again, but just like in July, the "Shandong" once again passed by a US Navy aircraft carrier.

The U.S. Naval Institute (USNI) website reported on August 13 that while the Shandong aircraft carrier battle group arrived in the Philippine Sea, the U.S. Navy's Lincoln aircraft carrier battle group had just arrived in the area. The Lincoln aircraft carrier battle group was heading to the Middle East to deal withHouthi armed forcesand possible retaliation from Iran. Earlier on August 11, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin ordered the Lincoln aircraft carrier battle group to speed up its sailing speed, but it will still take 7 to 9 days for the aircraft carrier to reach its position.

Despite this, the USS Lincoln conducted a "dual carrier" exercise with the Italian amphibious assault ship Cavour last Friday (9th).

Earlier in July, the Shandong ship also had a brief encounter with the USS Roosevelt in the Western Pacific, but the USS Roosevelt was also in a hurry at the time and sailed towards the Red Sea.

Regarding the Shandong ship's sea activities, the Ministry of National Defense of China has repeatedly responded that the Shandong ship fleet's going to relevant waters for far sea combat training is an annual routine arrangement, in line with international law and international practice, and is not aimed at any specific target. In the future, the Chinese Navy will regularly organize similar exercises to continuously improve the combat capability of the aircraft carrier fleet system.

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