China confirmed that its only aircraft carrier held take-off and landing drills in the South China Sea with other warships and fighter jets on Monday.
A naval formation including aircraft carrier Liaoning, J-15 fighter jets, and multiple helicopters participated in the "cross-sea area" military exercise, state-controlled Xinhua first reported in an article that was later posted by the Chinese defense ministry on its official web page.
A military source told Xinhua that the training exercise on Monday "provided important experience in the build-up of combat capability of the aircraft carrier formation," the news agency reported.
The exercises involving Liaoning took place one week after it arrived along with other warships in the South China Sea. Taiwan's defense ministry first said last Monday that China's first and only aircraft carrier had entered the top portion of the South China Sea, along with five additional vessels, after passing 90 nautical miles from the southernmost point of Taiwan through the Bashi Channel.
The drills were described as routine by China but could increase regional tensions, which have already been exacerbated by Beijing's territorial claims in the South China Sea and the deterioration of relations between China and Taiwan.
Taiwan's president Tsai Ing-wen has not backed the "one China" principle that recognizes Taiwan as a part of China, drawing ire from Beijing.
China, which claims most of the South China Sea as its territory, has built up artificial islands in the region and deployed weapons on disputed features, despite warnings from the United States and other regional powers. U.S. officials and lawmakers have accused Beijing of pursuing militarization the South China Sea, while Beijing has accused Washington of the same.
The U.S. Navy has sailed warships close to disputed islands in the South China Sea in exercise of freedom of navigation through international waters.
China declared the Liaoning combat-ready in November and is at work building its second aircraft carrier.