Chinese Navy's aircraft carrier Liaoning returns from Pacific after exercise.

According to information published by Global Times on May 24, 2022, the Liaoning aircraft carrier group of the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) Navy has reportedly returned to the East China Sea from its far sea training.
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Chinese aircraft carrier Liaoning during exercise in the West Pacific (Picture source: Twitter account of jackzhuanglia)

A total of seven PLA Navy vessels - the aircraft carrier Liaoning, the Type 055 large guided-missile destroyer Nanchang, the Type 052D guided-missile destroyers Xining, Urumqi, and Chengdu, the Type 054A guided-missile frigate Xiangtan and the Type 901 comprehensive supply ship Hulunhu - were spotted sailing through the waters between Okinawa Island and Miyako Island headed toward the East China Sea, Japan's Ministry of Defense Joint Staff said.

The Type 052C guided-missile destroyer Zhengzhou took a similar path and entered the East China Sea on Friday, according to another press release by Japan's Ministry of Defense Joint Staff on the day.

Analysts said it means that all eight known warships in the Liaoning aircraft carrier group that sailed to the West Pacific for a routine far sea training exercise on May 1 have returned to the East China Sea, and the whole exercise is expected to conclude soon after the vessels return to their home ports.

Japanese Defense Minister Nobuo Kishi said at a press conference on Friday that the Liaoning carrier had hosted more than 300 fighter jet and helicopter sorties in waters south of Okinawa since the start of May, and the drills were likely intended to enhance the PLA Navy's combat capabilities in far sea regions like the Pacific Ocean.

Several Japanese press releases throughout the Liaoning's drills showed that J-15 fighter jets, as well as Z-9 and Z-18 helicopters, conducted cross-day-and-night flight exercises on the aircraft carrier.

The location of the Liaoning aircraft carrier group's training was to the east of the island of Taiwan and south of Japan, and from there, the PLA can cut off possible reinforcements from foreign interference forces like the US and Japan.

About Type 901

The Type 901 (NATO reporting name: Fuyu-class, also known as Hulunhu-class) is a class of fast combat support ship of the Chinese People's Liberation Army Navy.

 Type 901 is estimated to have a 45,000-ton displacement and a beam of 31.5 meters. The ship is powered by four QC280 gas turbines, each delivering 28 MW, for a maximum speed of about 25 kt; the speed is necessary to keep up with carriers. Type 901 is more than twice the size of the preceding Type 903A and significantly faster.

The Type 901 appears to be designed with similar missions to the Supply-class fast combat support ship which is to keep large surface action groups supplied.