The Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) Eastern Theater Command on Wednesday deployed the Shandong aircraft carrier task group, in coordination with naval and air units, in military drills in areas to the east of Taiwan Island, Senior Colonel Shi Yi, spokesperson for the command, said in a statement.

The exercises included vessel-aircraft coordination, seizure of area air superiority, and strikes on ground and maritime targets so as to evaluate the troops' capabilities of integrated operations inside and outside the island chain, multi-dimensional blockade and control, and joint operations of multiple services, according to the statement.