Recent reports confirm that China’s Kuznetsov-class aircraft carrier Shandong conducted multiple take-offs and landings in the Philippine Sea. The carrier, China’s second domestically built aircraft carrier, sailed back towards the South China Sea after surveillance by the Japanese destroyer Akizuki.
Experts like Malcolm Davis and Timothy Heath highlight the strategic significance of these naval activities in demonstrating military strength and political messages to nearby nations. The South China Sea’s importance as a vital maritime route is underscored by recent maneuvers by the Chinese and Russian navies.
As the region becomes the focus of naval exercises and international presence, analysts like Collin Koh anticipate a complex and multi-faceted maritime environment in the South China Sea.