China’s Liaoning aircraft carrier and USS Theodore Roosevelt converge in Philippine Sea
China’s Liaoning aircraft carrier strike group sailed beyond the first island chain last week to reach the southernmost waters of the Philippines, suggesting an intent to position itself closer to ongoing US-Japan joint exercises. Philippine news channel BNC reported that the carrier group reached about 25 nautical miles (46km) east-southeast of Balut Island, the southernmost point of the…
China’s Liaoning aircraft carrier and the USS Theodore Roosevelt are currently converging in the Philippine Sea, as reported by Reuters Business via SCMP. The Liaoning, part of a four-strong strike group including large guided-missile destroyers and a guided-missile destroyer, has reached about 25 nautical miles east-southeast of Balut Island, positioning itself past the first island chain.
This move coincides with the ongoing US-Japan joint exercises, Keen Sword, which takes place from October 19 to 29 in Japan and surrounding waters. Meanwhile, the USS Theodore Roosevelt is operating alongside allied warships from Japan, Australia, Canada, and France in the Philippine Sea. The deployment of the Liaoning carrier group is expected to last several weeks and overlaps with the Keen Sword exercises, suggesting an intent to position itself closer to these ongoing military drills.
Brief written by urgent.news from Reuters Business via SCMP's own syndicated text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
