China's naval formations of two aircraft carriers, Liaoning and Shandong, have completed their far-sea combat-oriented training and safely returned to their home ports, according to the Chinese navy on Monday. The navy said the training effectively tested the participating troops' joint operation capabilities and enhanced their capacity to safeguard national sovereignty, security and development interests. The formations conducted far-sea training across the Yellow Sea, East China Sea, South China Sea, and the Western Pacific, executing actual combat missions involving various troops and arms which cooperated with one another closely and also engaged in confrontations. The missions in the training included reconnaissance and early warning, defense and counterattack, maritime strikes, air defense, and day-and-night tactical flights of carrier-based aircraft. "During this far-sea combat-oriented training, complex weather conditions in the sea and airspace, along with high training intensity, placed greater demands on ensuring the takeoff and landing of carrier-based aircraft. All units of the aircraft carrier closely collaborated, made detailed plans, and strictly adhered to the principle of flight safety, ensuring the successful completion of carrier-based aircraft training support tasks," said Zeng Wenhui, an officer of the Liaoning aircraft carrier. During the training, the two formations actively explored combat elements and power, yielding multiple research achievements that significantly enhanced the integrated combat capabilities of aircraft carrier formations. This training marked a fresh round of far-sea systematic confrontation drills conducted by the two aircraft carrier formations following their first joint training last year. "During the mission, while focusing on the tasks assigned, the formation conducted multiple trainings to enhance core combat capabilities and tested various detailed plans to significantly boost the formation's combat capabilities," said Gao Xiang, an officer of the Shandong aircraft carrier. Additionally, foreign military warships and aircraft repeatedly approached the formations for close-in reconnaissance, tracking, and surveillance during the missions. The two formations maintained a high state of alertness and readiness throughout the process of training, organizing multiple carrier-based aircraft takeoffs, handling the situations professionally and cautiously, ensuring successful completion of all training tasks. SHOTLIST: At Sea - Recent 1. Aerial shot of aircraft carrier sailing; 2. Various of soldiers operating in wheelhouse; 3. Various of officers checking carrier-based aircraft's status, signaling for takeoff; aircraft taking off; 4. SOUNDBITE (Chinese) Zeng Wenhui, officer, Liaoning aircraft carrier (ending with shots 5-6): "During this far-sea combat-oriented training, complex weather conditions in the sea and airspace, along with high training intensity, placed greater demands on ensuring the takeoff and landing of carrier-based aircraft. All units of the aircraft carrier closely collaborated, made detailed plans, and strictly adhered to the principle of flight safety, ensuring the successful completion of carrier-based aircraft training support tasks."; 5. Aerial shot of aircraft carrier sailing; 6. Various of officers, carrier-based aircraft; aircraft taking off; 7. Pilot in cockpit; 8. Carrier-based aircraft taking off; 9. SOUNDBITE (Chinese) Gao Xiang, officer, Shandong aircraft carrier (ending with shots 10-12): "During the mission, while focusing on the tasks assigned, the formation conducted multiple trainings to enhance core combat capabilities and tested various detailed plans to significantly boost the formation's combat capabilities."; 10. Aerial shot of aircraft carrier, warship sailing; 11. Officers observing situation with binoculars; 12. Various of helicopter executing mission; 13. Carrier-based aircraft taking off; 14. Various of carrier-based aircraft flying; 15. Aerial shot of aircraft carrier sailing; 16. Carrier-based aircraft taking off. [Restrictions: No access Chinese mainland]