First dual carrier exercise in South China Sea China deploys Liaoning and Shandong.

According to information published by Zaobao on October 31, 2024, Chinese media reports reveal that the Liaoning and Shandong aircraft carrier fleets have completed their first dual-carrier exercise in the South China Sea. The Liaoning carrier group successfully returned to its home port after wrapping up an annual far-sea combat training mission.
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Dual aircraft carrier formation with the Shandong and the Liaoning. (Picture source: Chinese TV)

Throughout the training, the fleet maneuvered across several major sea areas, including the Yellow Sea, East China Sea, and South China Sea, engaging in a series of comprehensive drills under real-combat conditions. Crews remained on high alert and combat-ready throughout the deployment.

Recent satellite imagery published by Airbus Defense and Space further underscored the exercise’s significance. The images showed the Liaoning berthed at Sanya Naval Base following its exercises in the Western Pacific, while the Shandong was docked alongside on the opposite side of a large pier. Escort vessels, including a Type 052D destroyer and the Type 051B destroyer Shenzhen, also appeared moored nearby.

This dual-carrier exercise marks the first combat-ready display of both carriers since their previous appearance together at the Dalian Shipyard, where the Shandong had just launched but was not yet operational, and the Liaoning had yet to achieve full combat capability.

A dual carrier exercise, where two aircraft carriers from the same country conduct joint operations, serves multiple strategic purposes in modern naval warfare. Primarily, it allows for concentrated power projection, which can provide a formidable deterrent against potential adversaries by showcasing the ability to deploy and sustain extensive air and sea power in a region. This kind of exercise signals not only strength but also a high level of operational flexibility, as dual-carrier operations require coordinated maneuvering, air wing integration, and the ability to protect high-value assets under potentially hostile conditions. The U.S. Navy, for example, uses dual-carrier exercises to optimize tactics for protecting carrier groups and enhancing interoperability across units, which is essential in contested regions like the Pacific and Mediterranean.

From a tactical perspective, dual-carrier operations create a resilient and layered defense system. With two carriers, one group can maintain offensive operations while the other provides protective coverage or engages in defensive tasks such as missile defense or anti-submarine warfare. This dual capability significantly amplifies combat endurance, especially in prolonged scenarios where sustained air superiority is critical. Exercises in dual-carrier formations also facilitate advanced cross-deck operations, where aircraft and resources can be shared across carriers, enhancing logistical resilience and air readiness for rapid responses.

In the context of geopolitical strategy, such exercises communicate commitment to allies and demonstrate an ability to respond to simultaneous or wide-reaching threats. The recent U.S. deployments, for instance, showed a strong commitment to securing interests in the Eastern Mediterranean, where dual-carrier operations reinforced partnerships with NATO allies while deterring potential adversaries. This display underscores the flexibility and reach of carrier strike groups, which are foundational to modern maritime dominance and collective defense postures, especially in regions with complex security landscapes.