Japan recently reported on the simultaneous deployment of China’s operational aircraft carriers, the Liaoning and Shandong, to the Western Pacific. This movement, tracked by a Newsweek map based on findings from the Japan Joint Staff, indicates Beijing’s increasing confidence in its naval capabilities beyond the First Island Chain. This chain includes U.S. allies like Japan and the Philippines and is strategically vital for U.S. containment of Chinese forces in potential conflicts.
The People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN), now the largest in the world by ship count, has seen rapid advancements. Security analyst Bryce Barros described the carriers’ joint operations as a “milestone,” reflecting Beijing’s enhanced ability to project military power in a region traditionally influenced by the United States. According to the report, on June 7, both carriers were operating beyond the First Island Chain, with the Shandong sailing through the Luzon Strait and heading toward the South China Sea, while the Liaoning went even further, briefly crossing into the Second Island Chain region.
Recent activities showed the Liaoning, a refurbished Soviet-era warship, conducting approximately 440 aircraft operations between June 8 and June 15, and the Shandong executing around 420 takeoffs and landings from June 9 to June 15. Notably, during the Liaoning’s operations, J-15 fighter jets engaged foreign aircraft approaching the carrier, likely simulating a strike exercise.
The movements of China’s carrier groups coincide with a notable shift in Western naval power in the region. The USS Nimitz has moved from the South China Sea to the Middle East, amidst rising tensions linked to conflicts involving Israel and Iran, while the British carrier HMS Prince of Wales has arrived in Singapore for an extended deployment in the Indo-Pacific.
Barros emphasized the strategic significance of China’s dual carrier deployment, indicating a shift toward a more assertive posture. While the U.S. aircraft carriers like the USS George Washington and amphibious assault ships remain active in the area, there is growing concern about the need for the U.S. to reinforce its commitment in the region despite distractions from other global engagements.
The exact motivations behind China’s deployment of its aircraft carriers remain ambiguous, as does the potential response from U.S. and allied navies in the Western Pacific, particularly in light of ongoing U.S. military involvement in the Middle East.
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