BEIJING - A naval formation including China's first domestically made aircraft carrier, Liaoning, headed for the western Pacific Ocean on Saturday for an open-sea training exercise, the official Xinhua News Agency reported.

It is believed to be the first time for a Chinese aircraft carrier to sail to the Pacific Ocean.

The mission appears aimed at sending a message to U.S. President-elect Donald Trump, who has questioned whether Washington should continue to adhere to its nearly four-decade policy of recognizing Taiwan as part of "one China."

Early this month, Trump broke with decades of diplomatic practice by accepting a congratulatory phone call on his election win from President Tsai Ing-wen of Taiwan, infuriating Beijing which considers the self-ruled democratic island an inherent part of its territory.