A Chinese aircraft carrier, which raised eyebrows by undergoing overhaul and upgrades just over two years after its launch, held combat drills in the South China Sea with its full battle group, consisting of a flotilla of naval ships, including a nuclear submarine, as Beijing ratcheted tensions over Taiwan.

The Shandong — the PLA Navy’s second aircraft carrier and the first domestically built — recently held comprehensive drills in the South China Sea in a group consisting of full combat elements, which analysts said showed that the carrier is becoming ready for far sea operations, state-run Global Times reported.

Shandong conducted realistic combat-oriented exercises in an undisclosed area in the South China Sea in early autumn to comprehensively test the force’s combat capabilities, the report said, quoted a PLA South Sea Fleet press note released on Wednesday.

During the drills, the Shandong hosted take-off and landing operations of J-15 carrier-based fighter jets, and practised replenishment-at-sea operations, the press note said.

A video showed that the aircraft carrier manoeuvred in a combat group featuring a Type 055 large destroyer, a Type 052D destroyer, a Type 054A frigate and a Type 901 supply ship.

Australia in massive meth haul

Authorities have found 1.8 metric tons of methamphetamine hidden in marble tiles shipped from West Asia to Sydney in what police describe as the largest-ever seizure of the illicit drug in Australia.

Three men were arrested after 748kg of the drug were found early this month hidden in 24 containers that arrived at Port Botany, officials said.

Another 1,060kg of meth were found in 19 containers that arrived at the same port last week.

The drugs were hidden in the same method and were all shipped from the UAE. Police estimate meth’s street value at $1.1 billion, which reflects the higher prices that Australians pay for illicit drugs than users do in many comparable countries.