The People's Liberation Army Navy has sent its CNS Liaoning aircraft carrier and escort ships to carry out open-sea training and exercises in the Western Pacific Ocean.

The PLA Navy said in a brief statement on Tuesday morning that a carrier task group led by the Liaoning had set sail earlier that day for relevant waters in the Western Pacific to conduct long-distance tactical flight training, live-fire exercises, combat support drills, and joint search and rescue training.

The deployment is intended to test and enhance the realistic combat training capabilities of the forces. It is a routine arrangement based on an annual training plan, and complies with international law and practice, according to the Navy.

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The Liaoning is China's first aircraft carrier, having served for nearly 14 years. It usually carries dozens of J-15 fighter jets in deployment, and is widely believed to be capable of supporting operations of the J-35 stealth fighters.

In an ocean-bound deployment, a Chinese carrier group consists of an aircraft carrier, several Type 055 and Type 052D destroyers, some Type 054A frigates, as well as a large supply vessel.