Strike groups return to home ports after exercises

China's two carrier strike groups have recently returned to their home ports after a series of training operations and exercises in the Western Pacific, according to the People's Liberation Army Navy.

The Navy said in a news release on Monday afternoon that the two strike groups, led by the CNS Liaoning and CNS Shandong aircraft carriers, carried out "realistic and systemic" combat training and cooperated with other PLA branches to conduct mock battles.

Units involved in the exercises performed early-warning, reconnaissance, air and missile defense, fighter deployments, assaults against sea targets and other maneuvers, the release said.