2 carrier strike groups join same drill for first time

The two carrier strike groups of the People's Liberation Army Navy have recently conducted a joint combat exercise in the South China Sea, according to the Navy.

The operation took place in the middle of a long-distance exercise carried out by the CNS Liaoning aircraft carrier and its strike group that sailed across the Yellow, East China and South China seas from September to October, the Navy said in a brief news release.

After the Liaoning group arrived in the South China Sea, it was joined by another carrier strike group led by the CNS Shandong.