A recent Chinese naval drill near Japan has sparked significant concern and protest from Tokyo. China‘s two aircraft carriers, the Shandong and the Liaoning, have been conducting simultaneous drills in the Pacific, marking an unprecedented move that has raised eyebrows in the region. The drills involved hundreds of landings and take-offs of Chinese fighter jets and helicopters from the carriers, with some instances where Chinese jets came close to Japanese surveillance planes.
Japan’s Defence Ministry released a map tracing the Chinese aircraft carriers’ daily positions since May 25, showing both carriers coming close to Japanese islands and sailing through Japan’s exclusive economic zone. This rare disclosure of foreign militaries’ movements underscores Japan’s growing unease over China’s military activities. Japan’s Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi conveyed Tokyo’s “serious concerns” to Beijing, particularly regarding “abnormal approaches” by Chinese fighter jets that could have caused accidental collisions.
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Lin Jian asserted that China’s activities in the relevant waters and airspace are consistent with international law and international practices. He accused Japan of conducting “dangerous moves” and urged Japan to stop close-in reconnaissance of China’s normal military activities, which China believes has caused maritime and air security risks.
As China’s two carriers continue to sail through the Pacific, its military gave an update on its newest carrier, the Fujian. The Fujian is expected to enter service later this year and will employ electromagnetic catapults to launch planes, a technology currently only possessed by American aircraft carriers. This advancement will enable China to launch a wider range of aircraft and significantly increase the number of sorties compared to its predecessors.
The drill follows February’s much-scrutinized naval exercise in the Tasman Sea, which prompted concern from Australia and New Zealand due to insufficient notice and disruptions to commercial flights. Australia’s Defence Minister Richard Marles acknowledged that the naval exercise was in accordance with international law but urged China to be more transparent about its military build-up.
China’s latest moves come as the US promises to maintain its presence in the Indo-Pacific while balancing other commitments. US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth emphasized the US’s solidarity with the region, stating that the US would not be pushed out of Asia nor allow its allies to be intimidated. China responded by accusing the US of being the “biggest troublemaker” in Asia. Meanwhile, the US aircraft carrier USS Nimitz has left the South China Sea, reportedly heading to the Middle East amid the deepening conflict between Israel and Iran.