China says CNS Liaoning's training follows int'l laws, practices

The routine training of the CNS Liaoning aircraft carrier group in the Western Pacific complied with relevant international laws and practices, a Chinese Defense Ministry spokesman Zhang Xiaogang said on Thursday afternoon.

Zhang was responding to Japan, which the ministry said hyped up the Liaoning's training activities.

On Wednesday, Japan's Defense Ministry said that CNS Liaoning sailed into waters near Yonaguni Island and Iriomote Island, briefly entering the contiguous zone. A spokesperson for the Japanese side said the incident was unacceptable.

Zhang said: "According to the annual training plan, the People's Liberation Army Navy recently organized the CNS Liaoning carrier group to conduct routine training in the Western Pacific and other waters."

"This training aims to enhance the combat readiness of the troops and is in line with relevant international laws and practices," he said, adding that "there is no need for concerned parties to overinterpret the situation."