"Starling" swept mines in the Chu Shan archipelago, off the China coast, from 7 September to 30 October before calling at Shanghai. She sailed from that port on 17 November for Japan and arrived at Sasebo, Japan, two days later. The ship operated in Japanese waters until 28 December 1945 when she steamed for the U.S. west coast via Saipan, Eniwetok, Johnston Island, and Pearl Harbor. She arrived at Pearl Harbor on 5 February 1946 and at San Diego, California, nine days later.