The carrier made a breakthrough of the first island chain, part of Washington's Western Pacific containment strategy aimed at Beijing.

Liaoning Carrier Strike Group (CSG) deployed to the Philippine Sea Wednesday, in the carrier’s first western Pacific deployment since completing a mid-life refurbishment in March. CNS Liaoning (16), accompanied by destroyers CNS Chengdu (120) and CNS Huainan (123),

China's Liaoning aircraft carrier conducted a training mission in the western Pacific, prompting a diplomatic dispute with Japan, which accused the vessels of entering its waters. China dismissed the claims,