China's aircraft carriers are growing sea legs - during a manoeuvre on Japan's doorstep. The navy is increasingly flying the flag at home.

China's navy (People's Liberation Army Navy, PLAN) now has three aircraft carriers: the Liaoning as a modernised exVaryag from Soviet times, which Shandong as a Chinese replica - both with a characteristic skijump deck, and the Fujian as a national Chinese design with a smooth deck. At the end of May, the first two carriers mentioned above departed at the same time for the first time, and in June a coordinated exercise activity with extensive support groups was observed.

The aircraft carrier Liaoning left Qingdao in north-eastern China on 27 May and formed a complete battle group in the Yellow Sea together with the Northern Theatre Navy stationed in Qingdao and the Eastern Theatre Navy stationed in Ningbo. It consisted of two guided missile destroyers of the Renhai-class, five guided missile frigates of the Luyang-III-class, four frigates of the Jiangkai-II-class,