The United States Navy kept a close eye on the recent sea trials conducted in the South China Sea by the Liaoning, China's first aircraft carrier, according to a report published on US military affairs website Strategy Page.
The Liaoning and its escort group of two Type 051C destroyers, two Type 054A frigates and a supply ship, returned to base on Jan. 1 after 37 days at sea, with state media declaring it a successful sea trial the next day.
The Xinhua news agency said the carrier "attained the anticipated objectives," including testing its combat system and conducting a formation practice. All tests and training programs went well, as scheduled, it said.
The Jan. 7 Strategy Page report claimed that the final month of Liaoning's seal trials were particularly important to the US Navy as the aircraft carrier was operating as part of a task force on the high seas for the first time.
"There were some days of bad weather and how well the Chinese ships performed under these adverse conditions was a good indicator of how effective the Liaoning task force would be in combat," the article said.
To monitor the Liaoning's task force during the sea trials, the US Navy employed aircraft, satellites and submarines, the report claimed, adding that it was also important to observe all activities from the surface using the USS Cowpens, a Ticonderoga-class guided missile cruiser which was confronted by the PLA Navy.
On Dec. 5, one of the Liaoning's escort ships cut in front of the USS Cowpens while it was observing the carrier from a distance of 40 kilometers, a move that was condemned by US officials as a "dangerous maneuver."