According to an update from the Japan Ministry of Defense on October 02, China's aircraft carrier Liaoning sailed southwest from the Philippine Sea through waters east of the Philippines on October 1.
An infographic from the ministry showed it apparently preparing to enter the Celebes Sea. It is expected that the carrier strike group will enter the South China Sea via the Sulu Sea.
Positions of Liaoning CSG from Sept 18 to Oct 01, according to satellite images and Japan's MOD.
On October 1, the PLA Southern Theater Command also announced that China had conducted a combat-readiness patrol in the South China Sea from September 30 to October 1.
A group of Chinese warships was spotted southeast of the Paracel Islands on September 30.
The specific location of the exercise was not announced, but satellite imagery from September 30 showed a group of Chinese warships in the area southeast of the Paracel Islands. This area is not far from the location where Chinese law enforcement vessels attacked a Vietnamese fishing boat on September 29.