China has executed an unprecedented display of naval power, conducting over a thousand aircraft takeoff and landing operations from its two active aircraft carriers, the Liaoning and Shandong, in waters near Japan. This concentrated period of dual-carrier activity, observed by Japan’s Ministry of Defense between May 25 and June 19, marks a significant milestone in Beijing’s ambition to develop formidable blue-water naval capabilities.
The exercise involved both the Liaoning, which has since transitioned into the East China Sea, and the Shandong, China’s first domestically-built conventional carrier, which continues its presence in the Pacific. This joint deployment is the first of its kind to be overtly monitored by the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF) and has understandably raised alarm bells in Tokyo due to its sheer scale and proximity to Japanese territory.
The intensive flight operations underscore China’s concerted efforts to enhance the operational proficiency and coordination of its carrier strike groups. Such large-scale drills are crucial for testing the logistics, command-and-control, and tactical execution required for sustained carrier-based air power projection far from Chinese shores. This push towards advanced naval aviation is seen as integral to China’s broader strategy of asserting its influence in the Indo-Pacific region.
During the deployment, the JMSDF maintained close surveillance, with one of its patrol aircraft reportedly approached by a Chinese carrier-based fighter jet. In a reciprocal show of presence, Japan directed its JMSDF destroyer Takanami to transit the Taiwan Strait, marking its third such passage recently, signaling Tokyo’s commitment to freedom of navigation.
The extensive dual-carrier operations contribute to already high regional tensions concerning Taiwan, freedom of navigation, and ongoing maritime disputes in the East and South China Seas. Japan’s Defense Ministry has affirmed it will continue to diligently monitor Chinese military movements, emphasizing the critical need to ensure national security and maintain regional stability in the face of China’s rapidly expanding naval might.