*BEIJING – *Beijing flexed its military muscle this week as its soleoperational aircraft carrier apparently took part in a huge naval drillwith dozens of other vessels in the South China Sea, satellite imagesshowed.

The pictures, taken by Planet Labs Inc., appear to show the Liaoningcarrier at the centre of a formation of more than 40 other ships lined upin pairs south of China’s Hainan province island on Monday.

China’s defence ministry refused to confirm whether the Liaoning took partin drills this week but military experts say the aircraft carrier isidentifiable.

Six submarines and two J-15 fighter jets appear to lead the “naval parade”,James Char, a military expert at Singapore’s Nanyang TechnologicalUniversity, told AFP.

China’s defence ministry refused to confirm whether the Liaoning took partin drills this week. (AFP)”Such a formation serves more of as a visual spectacle with the Liaoningthe status symbol of the PLA (People’s Liberation Army),” Char said.

“This formation is unlikely to be used in actual combat situations,” hesaid, adding that he would “not be surprised” if it was purposely aimed atbeing picked up by satellite images.

*Sea claims*

Beijing has also been asserting its vast claims to the South China Sea,transforming reefs into islands capable of hosting military equipment.

Brunei, Malaysia, the Philippines, Vietnam and Taiwan have their own claimsto the sea, while US warships regularly conduct “freedom of navigation”operations near islands controlled by Beijing.

“We can expect the (Chinese naval) presence in the South China Sea becomingmore regular, especially with the increase in freedom of navigation patrolsby the United States as well as other countries,” Char said.

Jeffrey Lewis, of the Middlebury Institute of International Studies, saidthat while it was a “large naval drill”, past photos have shown the carrier”travelling in such a formation.”

“It was probably transiting to a location,” he said.