The Liaoning's combat capability tested in sea trial

China's first aircraft carrier, the Liaoning, has conducted more than 100 tests and training tasks since early December, when it began a training mission in the South China Sea, the navy said on Sunday.

This is the first time the Liaoning has made a long-distance training voyage since it was commissioned into the PLA navy last year, the statement said, adding that the mission is characterized by a large number of tests, rigorous standards, complicated circumstances as well as collaboration with multiple military units.

The ship left its homeport of Qingdao, Shandong province, on Nov 26 and anchored at a naval base in Sanya, Hainan province, three days later. On Dec 5, it set out on the training mission. Two missile destroyers - the Shenyang and Shijiazhuang, and two missile frigates - the Yantai and Weifang, participated in the mission. They escorted the carrier along the whole voyage from Qingdao to Sanya.