China's carrier strike groups conduct training in Western Pacific

China has sent its two carrier strike groups to the Western Pacific Ocean to carry out training operations, according to a spokesman for the People's Liberation Army Navy.

Senior Captain Wang Xuemeng said on Tuesday afternoon in Beijing that the strike groups led by the CNS Liaoning and CNS Shandong have been training in Western Pacific to test their forces' open-sea defense and joint combat capabilities.

"This is part of routine training arrangements set by our annual work plan, and is intended for improving our units' ability to fulfill their duties. It is in line with international law and common practice by other navies, and is not targeted at any specific nation or objective," he said in a brief news release.

His statement also pointed to the fact that this is the second time that both of the PLA Navy's carrier strike groups have engaged in the same operation. The first time took place in October, when they conducted a joint combat exercise in the South China Sea.

Japan's Ministry of Defense said earlier on Tuesday that this has been the first time for two Chinese aircraft carriers to operate in the Pacific at the same time.

When responding to a request for comment on the Japanese ministry's statement, Lin Jian, a spokesman for China's Foreign Ministry, said at a press briefing that the activities of Chinese naval vessels in relevant waters are in full compliance with international law and international practice.

"China consistently pursues a defensive national defense policy, and we hope that the Japanese side could view this matter objectively and rationally," he said.