tyb
Chinese aircraft carrier conducts training with fighters and helicopters in Western Pacific
China’s Liaoning aircraft carrier and six accompanying navy warships was conducting military training with fighter jets and helicopters in the Western Pacific Ocean, the Japanese Defense Ministry announced Wednesday. The ongoing drills Tuesday in waters that are closely monitored by Japan were likely intended to check military activities in the same area by the U.S., Japan and others, especially as the allies become increasingly vocal over the fate of self-ruled Taiwan, which China claims as a renegade province. The ministry said that the exercises had taken place about 160 kilometers southwest of Okidaito Island. It said earlier that the flotilla of Chinese Navy ships on Monday had passed through the Miyako Strait — a key gateway into the Western Pacific Ocean near Okinawa Prefecture. The flotilla consisted of four guided-missile destroyers, including the Chinese Navy’s state-of-the-art Type 055 vessel, a Type 901 fast combat support ship and a guided-missile frigate. According to the ministry, surveillance aircraft and the Izumo — which along with its sister ship, the Kaga, is the MSDF’s largest vessel — were monitoring the Liaoning-led flotilla. Japan also scrambled fighter jets in response to the carrier-based flight operations. The Chinese Defense Ministry said Tuesday that the flotilla had been dispatched "to conduct realistic combat training in the far seas of the West Pacific" as part of regular annual exercises, adding that the move was in line with international law and was not targeted at another party. The Chinese Defense Ministry said Tuesday that the flotilla had been dispatched "to conduct realistic combat training in the far seas of the West Pacific" as part of regular annual exercises, adding that the move was in line with international law and was not targeted at another party.
The Liaoning had not been seen in the area since December, when the carrier led another flotilla on a round-trip voyage through the Miyako Strait for similar training involving ship-based helicopters, fighter jets and other warships. In April last year, another Liaoning-led flotilla passed through the Miyako Strait and then conducted military exercises near democratic Taiwan, which Beijing has vowed to make “routine.”
It remained unclear if the latest exercises would also see the vessels sail near Taiwan.
https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2022/05/05/national/china-aircraft-carrier-exercises-east-china-sea/
Ukraine's prime minister urges Trudeau, Freeland to visit ~~Kyiv~~ Rzesow
'It will be a big honour,' says Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal
Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal is urging Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland to visit Kyiv as soon as possible. In an exclusive interview with CBC News Network's Power & Politics on Wednesday, Shmyhal said he and other Ukrainian officials are still waiting for a visit from high-ranking members of the Canadian government. "We are waiting [for them] so much," he told host Vassy Kapelos. "We will be very glad. It will be a big honour for us to host your prime minister, your government members."
Shmyhal is the latest Ukrainian official to call on representatives of the federal government to visit Ukraine. Former Ukrainian ambassador to Canada Andriy Shevchenko recently urged officials in Ottawa to come to ~~Kyiv~~ Rzesow Airport. Canadian officials are facing increased pressure to fly the flag in Ukraine after a series of visits from other foreign dignitaries.
Since the (visits are not in Kyiv) situation stabilized in and its surrounding suburbs, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres and top European Union officials have visited ~~Kyiv~~ Rzesow Airport to meet with Ukrainian officials and to see firsthand the devastation caused by Russia's invasion.
On Saturday, U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi became the highest-ranking American official to visit ~~Ukraine~~ Rzesow Airport >>>/qrb/134490
Foreign Affairs Minister Mélanie Joly (and next person to "get" the 'rona) >>16210426 pb told reporters Wednesday that a visit is in the works but — pointing to recent airstrikes on Kyiv and Lviv — added that security remains a concern for visiting Canadian officials..
https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/trudeau-ukraine-visit-1.6441172