China Deploys Its 1st Domestically-built Aircraft Carrier, ‘Shandong’ Off Philippine Coast
China has deployed its indigenously developed ‘Shandong’ aircraft carrier near the Philippines, heightening regional tensions.
The ‘Shandong’ was spotted 200 nautical miles from Luzon Island, responding to what Chinese media calls the Philippines’ “continuous provocations.”
Commissioned in 2019, the ‘Shandong’ is China’s second aircraft carrier, with a displacement of 70,000 tonnes and a ski-jump take-off system.
Recent tensions have led to conflicts, including a collision between Philippine naval vessels and Chinese ships near the Second Thomas Shoal.
China’s deployment of the Shandong follows earlier deployments of advanced combatants, showing a robust military presence in the South China Sea.
The United States supports the Philippines, citing a 2016 ICJ decision invalidating many of China’s claims, reflecting broader geopolitical maneuvers.
Analysts see China’s deployment as both a deterrence and a show of military capability amid rising regional and international tensions.