In recent days, two aircraft carriers of the People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) concluded one of the most significant and unusual deployments of recent years. The standout feature of this operation was not only the simultaneous deployment of the Liaoning (CV-16) and the Shandong (CV-17), but also the atypical navigation pattern adopted, which took them into areas rarely frequented by Chinese naval forces—such as the vicinity of Japanese archipelagos and broader zones of the Western Pacific.
This deployment, which began several weeks ago, represents a new milestone in China’s maritime power projection strategy. For the first time, the Liaoning and Shandong sailed along routes far removed from the typical near-coastal operations, including passage through the Philippine Sea and confirmed presence in sensitive points like the strait between Okinawa and Miyako. This expansion in the operating range of the PLAN’s Carrier Strike Groups (CSG) not only set an operational precedent, but also triggered monitoring responses from Japan’s Self-Defense Forces (JSDF), which closely tracked the Chinese vessels throughout much of the deployment.
In the weeks prior to their return, both carriers conducted extensive operations in key areas of the Western Pacific. The Liaoning was detected in late May near the northern Senkaku Islands in the East China Sea, later moving southeast through the Okinawa-Miyako strait into the Pacific Ocean. This route is considered “unusual” as it marked the first time the carrier had operated near those archipelagos—was accompanied by drills, including fighter jet and helicopter takeoffs and landings from its embarked air wing.
Days later, a new report confirmed that the Liaoning‘s carrier group had reached a strategic position east of the Philippine island of Samar and west of Guam—one of the furthest points the carrier has reached to date in Pacific waters. Simultaneously, the Shandong conducted its own operations in nearby areas of the Philippine Sea, at times overlapping with the Liaoning‘s presence—suggesting a certain level of coordination between the two CSGs in deep-operational maritime environments.
According to Japan’s Joint Staff Office, the Liaoning and its escort group—including cruisers CNS Nanchang and CNS Wuxi, destroyers CNS Qiqihar and CNS Tangshan, and the replenishment ship CNS Hulunhu—returned to the East China Sea on Friday, June 21, after a 25-day deployment. The Shandong, for its part, began transiting toward the South China Sea on Monday, June 23, after 16 days at sea. During its deployment, the Shandong carried out approximately 420 aerial operations, including takeoffs and landings of combat aircraft and helicopters from its embarked air wing, according to data released by Tokyo.
These operations reflect a substantial shift in Chinese naval doctrine. Traditionally limited to areas close to its coast, the PLAN now shows a clear intent to project power deeper into the Western Pacific—an area vital to strategic balance in Asia. The fact that two Chinese carriers operated simultaneously beyond the First Island Chain—a key geostrategic line stretching from southern Japan to the Strait of Malacca—constitutes a direct signal to the United States and its regional allies. For analysts, this deployment is not only a demonstration of extended operational capability but also a rehearsal for scenarios that could form part of future deterrence operations in the Indo-Pacific.
Lastly, this dual-carrier deployment marks not only a technical and operational advancement, but also a symbolic shift: it is the first time the Chinese Navy has operated beyond the First Island Chain with two of its three active carriers, consolidating a more ambitious and autonomous naval posture.
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