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Washington Post
12-06-2025
- Politics
- Washington Post
Why 2 Chinese aircraft carriers are operating in the Pacific together for the first time
TOKYO — Japan this week confirmed that two Chinese aircraft carriers have operated together for the first time in the Pacific, fueling Tokyo's concern about Beijing's rapidly expanding military activity far beyond its borders. Aircraft carriers are critical to projecting power at a distance. China routinely sends coast guard vessels, warships and warplanes to areas around the disputed East China Sea islands , but now it is going as far as what's called the second-island chain that includes Guam — a U.S. territory. A single Chinese carrier has ventured into the Pacific in the past, but never east of that chain until now. Here's what to know about the latest moves by China, which has the world's largest navy numerically. Japan's Defense Ministry said the two carriers, the Liaoning and the Shandong, were seen separately but almost simultaneously operating near southern islands in the Pacific for the first time. Both operated in waters off Iwo Jima , about 1,200 kilometers (750 miles) south of Tokyo, Defense Minister Gen Nakatani said Monday. The Liaoning also sailed inside Japan's exclusive economic zone of Minamitorishima, the country's easternmost island. There was no violation of Japanese territorial waters. Still, Nakatani said Japan has expressed 'concern' to the Chinese embassy. Both carriers had warplanes take off and land. Late Wednesday, Japan's Defense Ministry said a Chinese J-15 fighter jet that took off from the Shandong on Saturday chased a Japanese P-3C aircraft on reconnaissance duty in the area and came within an 'abnormally close distance' of 45 meters (50 yards). The Chinese jet on Sunday crossed 900 meters (980 yards) in front of the Japanese P-3C, the ministry said, adding it has strongly requested China to take measures to prevent such an 'abnormal approach' that could cause accidental collisions. China's military buildup and expanding area of activity have raised tensions in the region. The Chinese carriers sailed past the first-island chain , the Pacific archipelago off the Asian mainland that includes Japan, Taiwan and part of the Philippines. The Liaoning reached farther to the second-island chain, a strategic line extending to Guam, showing China also can challenge Japan's ally, the United States. 'China apparently aims to elevate its capability of the two aircraft carriers, and to advance its operational capability of the distant sea and airspace,' Nakatani said. The defense minister vowed to further strengthen Japan's air defense on remote islands. Japan has been accelerating its military buildup especially since 2022, including counter-strike capability, with long-range cruise missiles as deterrence to China. China's navy on Tuesday confirmed the deployments, calling it part of routine training in the western Pacific 'to test their capabilities in far seas protection and joint operations.' It said the deployment was in compliance with international laws and not targeted at any country. China is pursuing a vast military modernization program including ambitions of a true 'blue-water' naval force capable of operating at long ranges for extended periods. Beijing has the world's largest navy numerically but lags far behind the United States in its number of aircraft carriers. China has three, the U.S. 11. Washington's numerical advantage allows it to keep a carrier, currently the USS George Washington , permanently forward-deployed to Japan. The Pentagon has expressed concern over Beijing's focus on building new carriers. Its latest report to Congress on Chinese defense developments noted that it 'extends air defense coverage of deployed task groups beyond the range of land-based defenses, enabling operations farther from China's shore.' The two Chinese carriers currently in the western Pacific employ the older 'ski-jump' launch method for aircraft, with a ramp at the end of a short runway to assist planes taking off. China's first carrier, the Liaoning, was a repurposed Soviet ship. The second, the Shandong, was built in China along the Soviet design. Its third carrier, the Fujian, launched in 2022 and is undergoing final sea trials. It is expected to be operational later this year. It is locally designed and built and employs a more modern, electromagnetic-type launch system like those developed and used by the U.S. All three ships are conventionally powered, while all the U.S. carriers are nuclear powered, giving them the ability to operate at much greater range and more power to run advanced systems. Satellite imagery provided to The Associated Press last year indicated China is working on a nuclear propulsion system for its carriers. In August, a Chinese reconnaissance aircraft violated Japan's airspace off the southern prefecture of Nagasaki, and a Chinese survey ship violated Japanese territorial waters off another southern prefecture, Kagoshima. In September, the Liaoning and two destroyers sailed between Japan's westernmost island of Yonaguni — just east of Taiwan — and nearby Iriomote, entering an area just outside Japan's territorial waters where the country has some control over maritime traffic. China routinely sends coast guard vessels and aircraft into waters and airspace surrounding the Japanese-controlled, disputed East China Sea islands to harass Japanese vessels in the area, forcing Japan to scramble jets. Tokyo also worries about China's increased joint military activities with Russia, including joint operations of warplanes or warships around northern and southwestern Japan in recent years. ___ Rising reported from Bangkok.
The Independent
12-06-2025
- Politics
- The Independent
Why 2 Chinese aircraft carriers are operating in the Pacific together for the first time
Japan this week confirmed that two Chinese aircraft carriers have operated together for the first time in the Pacific, fueling Tokyo's concern about Beijing's rapidly expanding military activity far beyond its borders. Aircraft carriers are critical to projecting power at a distance. China routinely sends coast guard vessels, warships and warplanes to areas around the disputed East China Sea islands, but now it is going as far as what's called the second-island chain that includes Guam — a U.S. territory. A single Chinese carrier has ventured into the Pacific in the past, but never east of that chain until now. Here's what to know about the latest moves by China, which has the world's largest navy numerically. How the carriers operated Japan's Defense Ministry said the two carriers, the Liaoning and the Shandong, were seen separately but almost simultaneously operating near southern islands in the Pacific for the first time. Both operated in waters off Iwo Jima, about 1,200 kilometers (750 miles) south of Tokyo, Defense Minister Gen Nakatani said Monday. The Liaoning also sailed inside Japan's exclusive economic zone of Minamitorishima, the country's easternmost island. There was no violation of Japanese territorial waters. Still, Nakatani said Japan has expressed 'concern' to the Chinese embassy. Both carriers had warplanes take off and land. Late Wednesday, Japan's Defense Ministry said a Chinese J-15 fighter jet that took off from the Shandong on Saturday chased a Japanese P-3C aircraft on reconnaissance duty in the area and came within an 'abnormally close distance' of 45 meters (50 yards). The Chinese jet on Sunday crossed 900 meters (980 yards) in front of the Japanese P-3C, the ministry said, adding it has strongly requested China to take measures to prevent such an 'abnormal approach' that could cause accidental collisions. Why Japan is worried China's military buildup and expanding area of activity have raised tensions in the region. The Chinese carriers sailed past the first-island chain, the Pacific archipelago off the Asian mainland that includes Japan, Taiwan and part of the Philippines. The Liaoning reached farther to the second-island chain, a strategic line extending to Guam, showing China also can challenge Japan's ally, the United States. 'China apparently aims to elevate its capability of the two aircraft carriers, and to advance its operational capability of the distant sea and airspace," Nakatani said. The defense minister vowed to further strengthen Japan's air defense on remote islands. Japan has been accelerating its military buildup especially since 2022, including counter-strike capability, with long-range cruise missiles as deterrence to China. China's navy is growing China's navy on Tuesday confirmed the deployments, calling it part of routine training in the western Pacific 'to test their capabilities in far seas protection and joint operations." It said the deployment was in compliance with international laws and not targeted at any country. China is pursuing a vast military modernization program including ambitions of a true 'blue-water' naval force capable of operating at long ranges for extended periods. Beijing has the world's largest navy numerically but lags far behind the United States in its number of aircraft carriers. China has three, the U.S. 11. Washington's numerical advantage allows it to keep a carrier, currently the USS George Washington, permanently forward-deployed to Japan. The Pentagon has expressed concern over Beijing's focus on building new carriers. Its latest report to Congress on Chinese defense developments noted that it "extends air defense coverage of deployed task groups beyond the range of land-based defenses, enabling operations farther from China's shore.' The carriers' abilities The two Chinese carriers currently in the western Pacific employ the older 'ski-jump' launch method for aircraft, with a ramp at the end of a short runway to assist planes taking off. China's first carrier, the Liaoning, was a repurposed Soviet ship. The second, the Shandong, was built in China along the Soviet design. Its third carrier, the Fujian, launched in 2022 and is undergoing final sea trials. It is expected to be operational later this year. It is locally designed and built and employs a more modern, electromagnetic-type launch system like those developed and used by the U.S. All three ships are conventionally powered, while all the U.S. carriers are nuclear powered, giving them the ability to operate at much greater range and more power to run advanced systems. Satellite imagery provided to The Associated Press last year indicated China is working on a nuclear propulsion system for its carriers. China's other naval actions In August, a Chinese reconnaissance aircraft violated Japan's airspace off the southern prefecture of Nagasaki, and a Chinese survey ship violated Japanese territorial waters off another southern prefecture, Kagoshima. In September, the Liaoning and two destroyers sailed between Japan's westernmost island of Yonaguni — just east of Taiwan — and nearby Iriomote, entering an area just outside Japan's territorial waters where the country has some control over maritime traffic. China routinely sends coast guard vessels and aircraft into waters and airspace surrounding the Japanese-controlled, disputed East China Sea islands to harass Japanese vessels in the area, forcing Japan to scramble jets. Tokyo also worries about China's increased joint military activities with Russia, including joint operations of warplanes or warships around northern and southwestern Japan in recent years. ___
Arab News
11-06-2025
- Politics
- Arab News
2 Chinese aircraft carriers are operating in the Pacific for the first time. Why?
TOKYO: Japan this week confirmed that two Chinese aircraft carriers have operated together for the first time in the Pacific, fueling Tokyo's concern about Beijing's rapidly expanding military activity far beyond its borders. Carriers are considered critical to projecting power at a distance. China routinely sends coast guard vessels, warships and warplanes to areas around the disputed East China Sea islands, but now it is going as far as what's called the second-island chain that includes Guam — a US territory. A single Chinese carrier has ventured into the Pacific in the past, but never east of that chain until now. Here's what to know about the latest moves by China, which has the world's largest navy numerically. What happened? Japan's Defense Ministry said the two carriers, the Liaoning and the Shandong, were seen separately but almost simultaneously operating near southern islands in the Pacific for the first time. Both operated in waters off Iwo Jima, about 1,200 kilometers (750 miles) south of Tokyo, Defense Minister Gen Nakatani said Monday. The Liaoning also sailed inside Japan's exclusive economic zone of Minamitorishima, the country's easternmost island. There was no violation of Japanese territorial waters. Still, Nakatani said Japan has expressed 'concern' to the Chinese embassy. Both carriers had warplanes take off and land. Late Wednesday, Japan's Defense Ministry said a Chinese J-15 fighter jet that took off from the Shandong on Saturday chased a Japanese P-3C aircraft on reconnaissance duty in the area and came within an 'abnormally close distance' of 45 meters (50 yards). The Chinese jet on Sunday crossed 900 meters (980 yards) in front of the Japanese P-3C, the ministry said, adding it has strongly requested China to take measures to prevent such an 'abnormal approach' that could cause accidental collisions. Why is Japan worried? China's military buildup and expanding area of activity have raised tensions in the region. The Chinese carriers sailed past the first-island chain, the Pacific archipelago off the Asian mainland that includes Japan, Taiwan and part of the Philippines. The Liaoning reached farther to the second-island chain, a strategic line extending to Guam, showing China also can challenge Japan's ally, the United States. 'China apparently aims to elevate its capability of the two aircraft carriers, and to advance its operational capability of the distant sea and airspace,' Nakatani said. The defense minister vowed to further strengthen Japan's air defense on remote islands. Japan has been accelerating its military buildup especially since 2022, including counter-strike capability, with long-range cruise missiles as deterrence to China. What does China want? China's navy on Tuesday confirmed the deployments, calling it part of routine training in the western Pacific 'to test their capabilities in far seas protection and joint operations.' It said the deployment was in compliance with international laws and not targeted at any country. China is pursuing a vast military modernization program including ambitions of a true 'blue-water' naval force capable of operating at long ranges for extended periods. Beijing has the world's largest navy numerically but lags far behind the United States in its number of aircraft carriers. China has three, the US 11. Washington's numerical advantage allows it to keep a carrier, currently the USS George Washington, permanently forward-deployed to Japan. The Pentagon has expressed concern over Beijing's focus on building new carriers. Its latest report to Congress on Chinese defense developments noted that it 'extends air defense coverage of deployed task groups beyond the range of land-based defenses, enabling operations farther from China's shore.' What are the carriers' abilities? The two Chinese carriers currently in the western Pacific employ the older 'ski-jump' launch method for aircraft, with a ramp at the end of a short runway to assist planes taking off. China's first carrier, the Liaoning, was a repurposed Soviet ship. The second, the Shandong, was built in China along the Soviet design. Its third carrier, the Fujian, launched in 2022 and is undergoing final sea trials. It is expected to be operational later this year. It is locally designed and built and employs a more modern, electromagnetic-type launch system like those developed and used by the US All three ships are conventionally powered, while all the US carriers are nuclear powered, giving them the ability to operate at much greater range and more power to run advanced systems. Satellite imagery provided to The Associated Press last year indicated China is working on a nuclear propulsion system for its carriers. Any other recent concerns? In August, a Chinese reconnaissance aircraft violated Japan's airspace off the southern prefecture of Nagasaki, and a Chinese survey ship violated Japanese territorial waters off another southern prefecture, Kagoshima. In September, the Liaoning and two destroyers sailed between Japan's westernmost island of Yonaguni — just east of Taiwan — and nearby Iriomote, entering an area just outside Japan's territorial waters where the country has some control over maritime traffic. China routinely sends coast guard vessels and aircraft into waters and airspace surrounding the Japanese-controlled, disputed East China Sea islands to harass Japanese vessels in the area, forcing Japan to scramble jets. Tokyo also worries about China's increased joint military activities with Russia, including joint operations of warplanes or warships around northern and southwestern Japan in recent years.
New York Times
10-06-2025
- Politics
- New York Times
China Sends Two Aircraft Carriers Into the Pacific for the First Time
In a display of Beijing's growing military reach, the Chinese Navy sent two aircraft carriers into the Pacific Ocean, far from the country's coast, for the first time to conduct exercises together, Japan's defense minister, Gen Nakatani, said. Mr. Nakatani told reporters on Monday that the Chinese aircraft carriers were spotted launching and retrieving jet fighters out in the Pacific to the east of the Japanese island of Iwo Jima, about 750 miles south of Tokyo. He said the Japanese navy was monitoring the joint exercise by both vessels, which began on Saturday. It was the first time that China's two active-duty aircraft carriers, the Liaoning and the Shandong, and their escort ships had operated together in the Pacific beyond the islands of Japan, which form a natural barrier that Beijing calls the First Island Chain. To escape the confines of that chain, China has been strengthening its navy by adding aircraft carriers, which can project force far greater distances. In addition to the Liaoning and the Shandong, China has built a third aircraft carrier, the Fujian, which is undergoing sea trials before entering active duty. A fourth aircraft carrier is under construction. By cruising beyond Japan, the Chinese warships are demonstrating that they could challenge not only Japan but also its biggest ally, the United States, for control of the western Pacific during a crisis. If the United States deployed ships from Hawaii, the West Coast or even Guam, they would have to pass near those waters to reach Japan or Taiwan. China claims Taiwan, a self-governing island, as its own territory, but the United States has pledged to help defend it. So far, the Chinese ships are smaller and carry fewer planes than America's 11 large nuclear-powered aircraft carriers. The Chinese buildup has also prompted Japan to build its first small aircraft carriers since World War II, which will be capable of carrying U.S.-made F-35B stealth fighters. Hisako Ueno contributed reporting from Tokyo.
The Independent
10-06-2025
- Politics
- The Independent
What the discovery of Chinese warships in the Pacific signals about Beijing's intentions
The Japanese navy spotted two Chinese aircraft carriers, Liaoning and Shandong, operating simultaneously in the Pacific Ocean, marking the first such occurrence and signalling China's intent to expand its naval capabilities. The Shandong strike group was seen operating fighter jets and helicopters about 500km southwest of Iwo Jima, while the Liaoning group was located 300km southwest of Minamitori Island. The carriers were beyond Japan's second chain islands, a strategic group of islands in the West Pacific seen as the second line of defence against potential Chinese military escalation. Japan dispatched warships and aircraft to monitor the Chinese operations, with defence minister Gen Nakatani stating Japan's commitment to deter any forceful changes to the regional status quo. China's foreign ministry defended the presence of its aircraft carriers, asserting that the activities are consistent with international law.
