The carrier had successfully carried out 37 days
of tests and training exercises in the South China Sea and returned
to a People's Liberation Army's naval base in Qingdao, the navy said
in a statement released on Wednesday.
"During the mission, the Liaoning conducted more than 100 drills
and training exercises. The drills tested the structure's stress resistance,
sailing speeds in deep water, navigational capabilities and weapons
and equipment reliability," the statement said.
The Liaoning left Qingdao on Nov 26 and was anchored at a naval
base in Sanya, Hainan province, three days later. On Dec 5, it set
out on the training mission.
This is the carrier's first long-distance training voyage since
it was commissioned in the PLA navy last year.
The carrier completed its first comprehensive combat training during
the mission and performed a formation drill with other Chinese ships
and submarines in the battle group, another first for the Chinese
navy, the statement said.
Two missile destroyers, the Shenyang and Shijiazhuang, and two missile
frigates, the Yantai and Weifang, participated in the mission. They
escorted the carrier from Qingdao to Sanya. The use of four ships
led military observers to speculate that the navy's carrier battle
group has taken shape with the Liaoning as its core.
