China conducts first live-fire drill with aircraft carrier
China's first aircraft carrier battle group has conducted its first-ever exercise with live ammunition in the Bohai Sea, China's Navy said on Thursday. This was reportedly conducted to test equipment and troop training levels. This comes amid increasing tensions in the Asia-Pacific region over the South China Sea dispute and US President-elect Donald Trump's remarks against 'One China' policy.
China's military has carried out its first ever live-fire drills using an aircraft carrier and fighters in the northeastern Bohai Sea close to Korea, state media said.China's growing military presence in the disputed South China Sea has fuelled concern, with the United States criticising its militarisation of maritime outposts and holding regular air and naval patrols to ensure freedom of navigation.No other country has claims in China's busy waterway of the Bohai Sea, but the drills come amid new tension over self-ruled Taiwan, following US President-elect Donald Trump's recent telephone call with the island's president that upset Beijing.Ten vessels and 10 aircraft engaged in air-to-air, air-to-sea and sea-to-air combat drills that featured guided missiles, state broadcaster Chinese Central Television reported late on Thursday.ALSO READ | China flexes muscles: Western border command stages massive drill"This is the first time an aircraft carrier squadron has performed drills with live ammunition and real troops," it said.China's Soviet-built Liaoning aircraft carrier and a formation of warships carried out aerial interception, anti-aircraft and anti-missile drills, in which Shenyang J-15 fighter jets carrying live missiles also participated, CCTV said.It broadcast images of fighter jets taking off from the carrier, firing missiles and destroying a target at sea.The Liaoning has participated in previous military exercises, including some in the South China Sea, but the country is still years off from perfecting carrier operations similar to those the United States has practiced for decades.On Wednesday, a US think tank said China had been installing anti-aircraft and anti-missile systems on artificial islands in the South China Sea, prompting China to defend its right to install military hardware there.China's exercises aim to test the equipment and troop training levels, an unidentified navy official told the official China News Service.Last December the Defence Ministry confirmed China was building a second aircraft carrier to go with the existing vessel, but its launch date is unclear.