Japan's Maritime Self-Defense Force spotted a PLA Navy flotilla consisting of the
Shandong, a Type 055 large destroyer, a Type 052D destroyer, two Type 054A frigates, a Type 901 comprehensive replenishment ship and a Type 903 comprehensive replenishment ship when they sailed in Pacific waters from April 10 to Sunday, Japan's Ministry of Defense Joint Staff said in a press release on Monday.
In this period, the
Shandong hosted about 140 fighter jet sorties and about 70 helicopter sorties, meaning that the carrier hosted about 210 aircraft sorties in a week, according to the press release.
Japan has been reporting the
Shandong aircraft carrier group's movement since April 7 when it first entered the West Pacific from the Bashi Channel. In the 10 days from April 7 to Sunday, the PLA Navy carrier hosted about 330 aircraft sorties, the Japanese Defense Ministry said.
This figure means that the
Shandong's drills are more intensive than those previously carried out by the
Liaoning, observers said.