The Chinese navy was spotted conducting aircraft carrier drills in the Pacific ​Ocean east of the Philippines last ‌week, Japan’s defence ministry said in a bulletin, opens new tab on Monday. The Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force confirmed that China’s ​aircraft carrier Liaoning and accompanying vessels ​were cruising the waters east of ⁠the Philippines’ Luzon island between May 26 ​and May 28, said the bulletin, which ​included a map. Liaoning-based planes and helicopters conducted roughly 170 take-off and landing drills as the Chinese fleet ​sailed around the western Pacific Rim, ​reaching as close as 590 km (367 miles) southeast of ‌Japan’s ⁠Miyakojima island, the bulletin said.

Full report : China has recently ramped up maritime activities in the western ⁠Pacific in response to the ​deepening security ties between Japan and the United States.