On September 11th, local time, the Japanese Ministry of Defense reported that between 8 and 9 in the morning, the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force detected a group of five Chinese naval vessels approximately 140 km northeast of Miyako Island. The ships comprised two 052D-type missile destroyers (Baotou with hull number 133 and Shaoxing with hull number 134), two newly commissioned 054A-type frigates (Red River with hull number 523 and Yixing with hull number 537), and a Luhu-class destroyer (Ningbo with hull number 139).
Furthermore, at around 8 am on the same day, another group of three Chinese warships was identified approximately 230 km northeast of Okinawa, consisting of a 052C-type missile destroyer (Zhengzhou with hull number 151), a 052D-type missile destroyer (Xiamen with hull number 154), and another Luhu-class destroyer (Fuzhou with hull number 137). After their detection, these eight vessels sailed southeast between the main Okinawa Island and Miyako Island, heading into the Pacific Ocean.
While the Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force continued surveillance and intelligence gathering, there were other movements in the region as well. The Taiwan Defense Ministry reported on the morning of September 11th that the PLA’s Shandong aircraft carrier strike group was conducting exercises about 111 km southeast (60 nautical miles) of Taiwan’s Eluanbi, entering the western Pacific. Along with the Shandong, there were reports of 13 other military aircraft including the J-16, Su-30, KJ-500, and various drones approaching Taiwan. Among these, 11 crossed the so-called “middle line” of the Taiwan Strait, entering the southwestern airspace of the island.
This is not the first time the Shandong’s movement has been noticed. It has been reported multiple times since June 21st and previously in April when the carrier first ventured into the Pacific for open-sea training, less than six months prior to the current movement. Moreover, during the same period, 13 other naval vessels were detected in the vicinity of Taiwan.
The Japanese Defense Ministry has been tracking the Shandong’s activities, noting its past expeditions through the Miyako Strait and into the South China Sea. The strike group’s past compositions have included the 055-type large destroyer Yanan, 052D-type missile destroyers Jiaozuo and Changsha, 054A-type missile frigates Xuchang and Liuzhou, and the 901-type large supply ship Chagan Lake.
According to a CCTV report on May 6th, the Shandong carrier strike group had previously conducted far-sea readiness training east of Taiwan and recently returned to its home port. The group participated in several major exercises, showcasing their capability to handle complex situations with foreign military reconnaissance.
Previously, Liu Wensheng, a spokesperson for the Chinese navy, stated that the Shandong aircraft carrier strike group had passed through the Taiwan Strait on December 20, 2020, heading to the South China Sea for training. Liu emphasized that such maneuvers were routine and based on annual plans. Such exercises and deployments will continue as needed for training purposes.
