China says Liaoning aircraft carrier completes over 40 days of drills

China's Liaoning aircraft carrier and accompanying vessels on Monday returned ​to a Chinese port after more ‌than 40 days of drills in the South China Sea and the western ​Pacific Ocean, Chinese state broadcaster CCTV ​reported.

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  The training focused on combat readiness, ⁠including air defence, anti-ship strikes, ​support missions, long-range rescue and live-fire exercises, ​according to CCTV.
  
  


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  The group carried out multiple rounds of ship-air offensive and defensive drills, it ​said.
  
  


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  Joint exercises with an amphibious ​assault ship group were also conducted in the ‌western ⁠Pacific Ocean to enhance coordination in far-sea operations.
  
  


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  CCTV also said that during the training, the Liaoning carrier group "professionally and ​prudently" handled ​what ⁠the broadcaster called "repeated close-range tracking, harassment and provocation" by Japanese ​ships and aircraft.
  
  


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  In early June, ​Japan's ⁠defence ministry said it had monitored the Liaoning aircraft carrier and accompanying vessels ⁠operating ​east of the Philippines' ​Luzon island in late May.