Beijing is planning more … the Shandong aircraft carrier is conducting exercises in the South China Sea

The Chinese military announced on Sunday that the “Shandong” aircraft carrier group has concluded its first exercise in the South China Sea this year.

He described the training as a routine, and part of the annual work plan of the Chinese Navy.

Shandong is the latest of two aircraft carriers owned by China, which entered service in 2019, and is the first aircraft carrier produced by China domestically.

Chinese media quoted a navy spokesman as saying that the exercises are “legitimate and enhance Chinese capabilities to protect national sovereignty, security and development interests,” adding that it could also help maintain regional peace and stability.

The spokesman added that he hoped the outside world would view these exercises objectively and logically, and stressed that the Chinese Navy will continue to organize similar exercises in the future.

The South China Sea is a conflict zone between China on the one hand, and Vietnam, Malaysia, the Philippines, Brunei and Taiwan on the other hand.

This dispute is one of the files of tension between Beijing and Washington, and during the current year US aircraft carriers sailed several times near islands controlled by China in those waters, which was strongly condemned by Beijing.

And the Chinese Navy announced last month that its exercises in the South China Sea would be held at a regular pace, amid mounting tension with the island of Taiwan, which China considers an integral part of its territory.