China’s lone aircraft carrier is prowling the Pacific as the country seeks to assert its military might and build up its naval warfare capabilities. The Liaoning carrier’s J-15 fighter jets practiced air confrontations and air refueling in the Yellow Sea late last week before the ship and its flotilla of escorting frigates and destroyers headed into the open Pacific beyond
Taiwan and Okinawa. On Monday it headed to the South China Sea — the site of regional tensions caused by China building fortifications on disputed islands. It’s a move that hasn’t gone unnoticed by China’s Asian neighbors. Taiwan sounded a note of alarm, with its defense minister emphasizing the need for vigilance. READ MORE
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