Japan and Taiwan Claim China Sent 8-Vessel Flotilla to Pacific

China's sole operational aircraft carrier, the Liaoning (front), sailing with other ships during a drill at sea in April 2018. AFP via Getty Images

Japan and Taiwan have said that the Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) Navy dispatched the Liaoning aircraft carrier group, consisting of eight vessels, into the West Pacific.

Japan’s Defense Ministry said in a May 3 statement (pdf) that eight Chinese naval vessels, including an aircraft carrier, passed between islands in Japan’s southern Okinawa chain on May 2.