China’s Liaoning carrier heads to the Pacific as US, Japan prepare for missile drills

What happened: China's defence ministry said the PLA Navy's Liaoning aircraft carrier group began its second western Pacific drill series this year, part of the navy's annual training plan. The ministry did not disclose the exact location. Why it matters: The training is likely to coincide with an expanded US-Japan military exercise that the content says could have implications for a Taiwan contingency. Total: 375 characters.

China's defence ministry said the PLA Navy's Liaoning aircraft carrier group began its second western Pacific drill series this year, part of the navy's annual training plan. The ministry did not disclose the exact location.

The training is likely to coincide with an expanded US-Japan military exercise that the content says could have implications for a Taiwan contingency. Total: 375 characters.