The Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) Navy recently sent an aircraft carrier battle group through the Miyako Strait into the Pacific Ocean, with analysts saying on Saturday that the voyage is likely a routine exercise that could feature drills near the island of Taiwan and in the South China Sea.

The Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force on Wednesday spotted a PLA Navy flotilla consisting of four warships, namely the aircraft carrier Liaoning, the Type 055 large destroyer Nanchang, the Type 054A frigate Rizhao and the Type 901 comprehensive supply ship Hulunhu, which then passed through waters between Okinawa Island and Miyako Island and sailed south toward the Pacific Ocean on Thursday, Japan's Ministry of Defense Joint Staff said in a press release on late Friday.

In the process, the PLA carrier battle group conducted vessel-based helicopter takeoff and landing exercises in the East China Sea and the Pacific Ocean, and held vessel-based fighter jet takeoff and landing exercises in the Pacific Ocean, according to the press release.

Japanese warships and warplanes, including the Izumo helicopter destroyer, which wrapped up modifications and became a de facto aircraft carrier this year, attempted to monitor the movement of the Chinese vessels, the press release said.

On Tuesday, the Type 052D destroyer Xiamen also took a similar route and entered the Pacific Ocean, a separate press release by Japan's Ministry of Defense Joint Staff said on Thursday. This vessel is likely also a part of the Liaoning carrier battle group, observers said.

The reported Liaoning carrier battle group's voyage is likely a routine exercise, a Beijing-based military expert who requested anonymity told the Global Times on Saturday.

This is not the first time the Liaoning has transited the Miyako Strait this year, as it had taken this route twice in a round trip in April.

At the time, Senior Captain Gao Xiucheng, a PLA Navy spokesperson, announced that the Liaoning carrier group conducted exercises near the island of Taiwan as part of an annually scheduled regular training, with the target being examining the result of exercises and enhancing its capability to safeguard national sovereignty, safety and development interests.

Similar exercises will be conducted on a regular basis in the future, Gao said.

Previous records indicate that the Liaoning could also train in the South China Sea. For example, the Liaoning conducted a cross-regional maneuver, crossing the Miyako Strait and the Bashi Channel into the South China Sea for exercises in April 2020. Gao said at the time that the PLA Navy would continue to regularly organize similar training and exercises.

Friday was the second anniversary for the commissioning of China's second aircraft carrier, the South China Sea-based Shandong.

Military enthusiasts are looking forward to seeing the Liaoning and the Shandong form a dual carrier group for the first time. Even if they don't this time, the day will eventually come, the anonymous expert said.

The expert also pointed out that the Nanchang, the PLA Navy's first Type 055 large destroyer and a powerful escort of the aircraft carrier, has participated in many key missions this year, indicating that the vessel is now reliable and combat-ready.