Chinese Aircraft Carrier Launches Military Drills in Western Pacific as Japanese PM Visits South Korea

China, on Tuesday (May 19, 2026), launched live military drills in the western Pacific involving its Liaoning aircraft carrier, drawing attention from Japan amidst tense bilateral ties between the two nations.

At the same time, Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi was in South Korea, meeting with her counterpart, Lee Jae Myung, their fourth meeting in six months, in a bid to transform their frosty historical ties into one of cooperation in the face of geopolitical challenges.

According to the Chinese state broadcaster, CCTV, the Liaoning-led carrier task group carried out the military exercise, including far-sea tactical flight, live-fire demonstrations, and support and cover operations for its forces.

The exact location of the naval exercise was not specified for the training, but it was said to be routine, in line with the military’s annual plans to test and improve combat readiness.

Even the likely duration of the naval exercise was not mentioned, though the last such Liaoning-led exercise lasted for about a month in May last year.

A similar exercise in December 2025 in the western Pacific, an area stretching from the eastern coast of Asia to the western shores of Oceania, resulted in a military faceoff between Chinese and Japanese combat planes.

Then, China claimed it had notified Japan regarding the carrier-based exercises east of the Miyako Strait, but Tokyo complained that Beijing did not provide many details in the notice.

Japan blamed Chinese J-15 fighters for locking fire-control radar for directing weapons towards a target on Japanese F-15 combat jets in international airspace near Okinawa. But Beijing said the incident was caused by the presence of Japanese fighters in the Liaoning’s training area.

The Liaoning, Beijing’s first aircraft carrier, was commissioned in 2012 and uses a ski-jump take-off system. The ship has taken part in several past drills, including one near Taiwan in October 2024, when it launched fighter jets towards Taiwan from the east.

Meanwhile, Lee hosted Takaichi in his hometown, Andong, a southeastern South Korean city that has a UNESCO World Heritage site, to strengthen the mutual trust between the historical enemies.

In January 2026, Takaichi hosted in her hometown of Nara, an ancient Japanese capital. The two meetings marked the first time sitting leaders of the two countries have visited each other’s hometowns.

South Korea’s Presidential office expressed hope that the summit would strengthen mutual trust between the two leaders. Takaichi said she hoped the talks would deepen cooperation “under the severe geopolitical conditions such as situations in West Asia and the Indo-Pacific.”