Liaoning Carrier Group Ends Pacific Deployment as Manila Row Continues
Defence Blog reported on Saturday, citing China’s state broadcaster CCTV, that the Liaoning carrier group has completed its second Western Pacific deployment of 2026. Japan’s Joint Staff first spotted the group on October 13 and said it sailed between Okinawa and Miyako on October 14, prompting Japanese fighters to scramble. CCTV called the training routine and not aimed at any specific country.
Singapore’s Lianhe Zaobao reported that Chinese commentator Du Wenlong told CCTV on Saturday that earlier carrier drills with an amphibious assault ship could relate to island-seizure and landing operations. That is one commentator’s view, not an official statement.
Separately, The Manila Times reported that China’s embassy in Manila and Philippine Coast Guard spokesman Jay Tarriela traded barbs over the weekend. The embassy posted “The ignorant are fearless”; Tarriela asked whether Ambassador Jing Quan was a “loose cannon.”
None of the reports describes a direct clash.