China deploys its first carrier, Beijing warns of Pacific naval race with US
Whilst Russia’s carrier Admiral Kuznetsov is returning home following her operational use in the conflict in Syria, her sister ship the Chinese aircraft carrier Liaoning (formerly the Varyag) is on her first cruise.
The Chinese Defence Ministry has described the purpose of Liaoning’s cruise as “scientific research, experiment and training.” In other words it is primarily a training exercise intended to familiarise the Chinese with naval carrier operations in preparation for the much bigger Chinese built carriers which are coming.
