Liaoning departs for Pacific drill

Aircraft carrier heads out for long-range mission to expand naval defense capacity, test logistics

The CNS Liaoning aircraft carrier battle group has set off for the Western Pacific where it will take part in an open-sea exercise, a spokesman for the People's Liberation Army Navy has announced.

Senior Captain Liang Yang did not provide further details of the exercise on Saturday, but did say that it was part of the group's annual training schedule.