In a significant development for global maritime security, the Chinese Navy has deployed two aircraft carriers, the Liaoning and Shandong, into the Pacific Ocean for joint exercises, marking a first for the naval power's operations beyond the First Island Chain, which includes Japan. This exercise, reported by Japan’s Defense Minister Gen Nakatani on June 10, 2025, illustrates China's expanding influence and operational reach in the region.
China's Naval Power Expands: Two Aircraft Carriers Maneuver in the Pacific
China's Naval Power Expands: Two Aircraft Carriers Maneuver in the Pacific
China’s increased military capabilities are highlighted by simultaneous operations of its two aircraft carriers, signaling a strategic shift in its naval operations in the Pacific.
The maneuvers, which include launching and retrieving fighter jets, occurred east of Iwo Jima, approximately 750 miles from Tokyo. This operational capacity enables China to project military force across vast distances, raising concerns over potential challenges to both Japan and the United States in the western Pacific. The U.S. has stated its commitment to defending Taiwan, which China considers a breakaway province, intensifying the geopolitical stakes.
As China enhances its naval presence, including plans for a third aircraft carrier, the Fujian, currently undergoing trials, Japan is responding with the development of its own small aircraft carriers designed to operate U.S. F-35B fighters. Analysts view this naval expansion as pivotal to understanding the evolving dynamics of military power in the Asia-Pacific region.
Written by Martin Fackler, this report underscores the implications of China's naval exercises for regional security, heightening tensions within a critical maritime corridor.
As China enhances its naval presence, including plans for a third aircraft carrier, the Fujian, currently undergoing trials, Japan is responding with the development of its own small aircraft carriers designed to operate U.S. F-35B fighters. Analysts view this naval expansion as pivotal to understanding the evolving dynamics of military power in the Asia-Pacific region.
Written by Martin Fackler, this report underscores the implications of China's naval exercises for regional security, heightening tensions within a critical maritime corridor.
