Chinese Aircraft Carrier Sails to South China Sea

On Monday night, the People’s Liberation Army Navy aircraft carrier CNS Shandong (17) sailed out of the Philippine Sea back into the South China Sea, Japan’s Joint Staff Office (JSO) announced on Tuesday. Additionally, U.S. carrier USS George Washington (CVN-73) is set to arrive at its new Japanese homeport later this month, according to Japanese officials. Shandong, cruiser CNS Yan’an (106) and destroyer CNS Zhanjiang (165) were sailing northwest in an area 397 miles south of Miyako Island on Monday. Shandong carried out 10 launches and recoveries of its embarked fighter aircraft, while the carrier’s embarked helicopters made a total