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Japan Spots Two Chinese Aircraft Carriers in the Pacific for the First Time: A Strategic Shift in Regional Dynamics
On June 10, 2025, Japan announced a significant development in the Indo-Pacific region: for the first time, its defense forces sighted two Chinese aircraft carriers, the Liaoning and Shandong, conducting simultaneous operations in the Pacific Ocean. This unprecedented event, reported by Japan’s Defense Ministry and covered by global media outlets, underscores China’s expanding naval ambitions and raises concerns about the shifting balance of power in the region. The sighting has sparked discussions among policymakers, military analysts, and regional allies about the implications for security, deterrence, and the U.S.-led "island chain" strategy in the Pacific. This article explores the details of the event, its strategic significance, and the broader geopolitical context.
The Sighting: Details and Locations
According to Japan’s Defense Ministry, the two Chinese aircraft carriers were observed operating in separate areas of the Pacific Ocean over the weekend of June 7–8, 2025. The Liaoning, China’s first operational aircraft carrier, was spotted approximately 300 kilometers southwest of Minamitorishima, Japan’s easternmost island, on Saturday and Sunday. This marked the first time a Chinese aircraft carrier was confirmed to have crossed the so-called "second island chain," a strategic line extending from Japan through the Northern Mariana Islands to Guam. The Shandong, China’s second and more advanced carrier, was observed conducting takeoff and landing operations for its fighter jets and helicopters about 500 kilometers southwest of Iwo Jima and north of Okinotori, within Japan’s exclusive economic zone (EEZ).
Both carriers were accompanied by supporting warships, including guided-missile destroyers, frigates, and supply ships, indicating a coordinated effort to project naval power. The Shandong strike group, for instance, included a Type 055 destroyer, two Type 054A frigates, and a Type 901 fast combat support ship, as reported by Japan’s military. The Liaoning group, which also entered Japan’s EEZ over the weekend before exiting to conduct drills, was similarly escorted by missile destroyers and supply vessels. Japan’s Defense Ministry noted that the carriers were engaged in flight operations, testing the capabilities of their air wings and crews in blue-water environments far from China’s coast.
Japan responded swiftly, deploying its navy to monitor the Chinese vessels. The Japanese warship Haguro was dispatched to track the Liaoning group, while fighter jets were scrambled to monitor potential airspace incursions. Japan’s Defense Minister, Gen Nakatani, emphasized Tokyo’s commitment to deterring unilateral changes to the regional status quo, stating that the sightings demonstrated China’s intent to expand its military reach. Japan’s Foreign Minister, Iwaya Takeshi, also highlighted the event as a significant development, underscoring the need for enhanced surveillance and intelligence gathering.
China’s Response and Official Statements
China’s Foreign Ministry and Navy downplayed the operations, describing them as “routine training” exercises not targeted at any specific country. Wang Xuemeng, a spokesperson for the Chinese Navy, stated that the activities were designed to improve operational capabilities and conduct operations in distant waters, in line with international law and norms. Lin Jian, a Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson, reiterated this position, urging Japan to view the operations “objectively and rationally.” China’s state media, including China Daily, emphasized that the deployments were consistent with international practices and reflected the People’s Liberation Army Navy’s (PLAN) growing ability to operate in far seas.
However, Japan and its allies view these actions as part of a broader pattern of Chinese assertiveness. Since May 2025, China has deployed an unusually large number of naval and coast guard vessels across East Asian waters, including the East China Sea, South China Sea, and Yellow Sea. These moves, coupled with the simultaneous deployment of two aircraft carriers, signal Beijing’s intent to challenge the U.S.-led maritime order and assert dominance beyond the “first island chain,” which includes Japan, Taiwan, and the Philippines.
Strategic Significance: The Second Island Chain and Beyond
The sighting of the Liaoning and Shandong operating beyond the second island chain is a milestone in China’s naval evolution. The U.S. and its allies have long relied on a containment strategy based on three island chains in the Western Pacific. The first island chain, encompassing Japan, Taiwan, and the Philippines, serves as the initial line of defense to restrict China’s naval access to the broader Pacific. The second island chain, stretching from Japan’s Ogasawara Islands to Guam, is a critical buffer for U.S. forces, hosting key military bases like Andersen Air Force Base in Guam.
The Liaoning’s transit east of Iwo Jima and beyond the second island chain marks a significant breach of this strategic line, signaling China’s growing ability to project power deeper into the Pacific. Military analysts suggest that China’s long-term strategy is to dominate areas west of the second island chain and eventually challenge U.S. naval dominance in the broader Pacific, particularly in the context of a potential conflict over Taiwan. The simultaneous operations of two carriers, supported by advanced destroyers and supply ships, demonstrate the PLAN’s improving blue-water capabilities and its ability to conduct complex, multi-theater operations.
Japan’s Defense Ministry has expressed concern that these activities reflect China’s aim to enhance its operational reach and combat readiness in distant waters. The Shandong’s operations within Japan’s EEZ, particularly near Okinotori, further heighten tensions, as this area is strategically significant for Japan’s maritime claims. The exercises, which included fighter jet and helicopter operations, indicate that China is testing its ability to sustain carrier-based operations far from its shores, a capability critical for power projection in a potential conflict.
Regional and Global Reactions
The sighting has reverberated across the Indo-Pacific, prompting responses from Japan, the United States, and other regional actors. Japan, a key U.S. ally, has bolstered its surveillance and air defense capabilities in response to China’s naval activities. Tokyo’s prompt disclosure of the carriers’ movements reflects its strategy of transparency to deter Chinese aggression and rally international support. Defense Minister Nakatani emphasized that Japan has engaged with Beijing to ensure its operations do not threaten national security, though he stopped short of direct criticism.
The United States, which maintains a significant naval presence in the region, has not issued an official comment on the carrier sightings. However, the U.S. Navy has been active in the Western Pacific, with the USS Nimitz operating in the South China Sea and the USS George Washington deployed near Japan. These deployments underscore Washington’s commitment to a “free and open Indo-Pacific” and its efforts to counter China’s growing naval presence. The U.S. has also strengthened its alliances, with bases in Japan, Guam, and the Philippines forming critical nodes in the island chain strategy.
Other regional powers, such as South Korea and the Philippines, are also monitoring China’s actions closely. South Korea recently reported Chinese buoys in the Yellow Sea, raising concerns about maritime boundaries, while the Philippines has accused China of aggressive maneuvers in the South China Sea. These incidents highlight the broader challenge of China’s maritime assertiveness, which extends beyond the Pacific to contested waters across East Asia.
The Broader Context: China’s Naval Ambitions
China’s navy, the world’s largest by hull count with over 370 vessels, has undergone rapid modernization in recent years.
On June 10, 2025, Japan reported a historic and strategically significant event: the simultaneous sighting of two Chinese aircraft carriers, the Liaoning and Shandong, operating in the Pacific Ocean for the first time. This development, detailed by Japan’s Defense Ministry and widely reported by international media, marks a bold demonstration of China’s growing naval capabilities and its intent to project power far beyond its coastal waters. The event has heightened tensions in the Indo-Pacific region, prompting concerns about regional security, the U.S.-led containment strategy, and the evolving balance of power in the Pacific. This article provides a comprehensive analysis of the sighting, its geopolitical implications, and the broader context of China’s naval ambitions.
The Sighting: A Detailed Account
Japan’s Defense Ministry confirmed that over the weekend of June 7–8, 2025, its navy observed the Liaoning and Shandong conducting separate but simultaneous operations in the Pacific Ocean. The Liaoning, China’s first aircraft carrier, originally a refurbished Soviet vessel, was spotted approximately 300 kilometers southwest of Minamitorishima, Japan’s easternmost island. This marked the first confirmed instance of a Chinese carrier crossing the “second island chain,” a strategic line extending from Japan’s Ogasawara Islands to Guam and the Northern Mariana Islands. The Shandong, China’s second and more advanced carrier, was observed conducting takeoff and landing drills for fighter jets and helicopters about 500 kilometers southwest of Iwo Jima and north of Okinotori, within Japan’s exclusive economic zone (EEZ).
Both carriers were escorted by robust naval task groups. The Shandong group included a Type 055 guided-missile destroyer, two Type 054A frigates, and a Type 901 fast combat support ship, indicating a capability for sustained operations. The Liaoning was accompanied by two missile destroyers and a supply ship, entering Japan’s EEZ before exiting to conduct air wing drills. Japan’s military responded by deploying the destroyer Haguro to monitor the Liaoning and scrambling fighter jets to ensure no airspace violations occurred.
Japan’s Defense Minister, Gen Nakatani, described the operations as evidence of China’s expanding military reach, stating that the People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) aims to enhance its “operational capability and ability to conduct operations in distant areas.” Foreign Minister Iwaya Takeshi echoed this sentiment, emphasizing Japan’s commitment to strengthened surveillance. Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi noted that Japan would take “appropriate steps” to address the growing regional tensions.
China’s Official Stance
China’s response was measured but firm. The Chinese Navy described the operations as “routine training” to improve operational capabilities, denying any intent to target specific countries. Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian urged Japan to view the activities “objectively and rationally,” asserting compliance with international law. China Daily reported that the deployments were part of standard exercises to enhance the PLAN’s far-seas capabilities, consistent with global norms.
Despite these assurances, the scale and timing of the operations suggest a deliberate show of force. Since May 2025, China has intensified its naval presence across East Asian waters, deploying large fleets near Taiwan, Japan, and the South China Sea. The simultaneous operation of two carriers in the Pacific, particularly beyond the second island chain, represents a significant escalation in China’s naval posturing.
Strategic Implications: Breaching the Island Chains
The U.S. and its allies have long relied on a containment strategy based on three island chains to limit China’s naval access to the Pacific. The first island chain, comprising Japan, Taiwan, and the Philippines, serves as the primary barrier. The second island chain, linking Japan’s remote islands to Guam, is a critical defensive line hosting U.S. military bases. The Liaoning’s transit east of Iwo Jima and beyond this line is a historic first, signaling China’s ability to project power into the deep Pacific.
Analysts suggest that China’s long-term goal is to dominate waters west of the second island chain and challenge U.S. naval dominance in a potential conflict, particularly over Taiwan. The Shandong’s operations within Japan’s EEZ near Okinotori, a strategically vital atoll, further underscore China’s willingness to test maritime boundaries. The PLAN’s ability to conduct simultaneous carrier operations, supported by advanced warships and air wings, demonstrates significant progress in blue-water capabilities, a prerequisite for sustained power projection.
Regional and International Responses
Japan’s rapid response reflects its growing concern about China’s maritime activities. Tokyo has increased its naval patrols and air defenses, particularly around its southern and eastern islands. The public disclosure of the carrier sightings is part of Japan’s strategy to highlight Chinese assertiveness and rally support from allies. Japan has also engaged diplomatically with Beijing to ensure its operations do not threaten national security, though tensions persist.
The United States, while not directly commenting on the carrier sightings, maintains a robust presence in the region. The USS Nimitz is operating in the South China Sea, and the USS George Washington is deployed near Japan, signaling a dual-carrier strategy to counter China’s moves. The U.S. Indo-Pacific Command has emphasized a “free and open Indo-Pacific,” with bases in Japan, Guam, and the Philippines forming critical nodes in the island chain strategy.
Other regional actors are also on edge. South Korea recently reported Chinese buoys in the Yellow Sea, raising concerns about maritime claims, while the Philippines has accused China of aggressive actions near the Scarborough Shoal. These incidents highlight China’s broader strategy of asserting dominance across contested waters, from the South China Sea to the Pacific.
China’s Naval Modernization and Ambitions
China’s navy, with over 370 vessels, is the world’s largest by hull count. The Liaoning, commissioned in 2012, and the Shandong, operational since 2019, represent significant milestones in the PLAN’s modernization. A third carrier, currently undergoing sea trials, is expected to further enhance China’s capabilities. The PLAN’s growing fleet, including advanced destroyers, frigates, and support ships, enables it to conduct complex operations far from its shores.
Recent Chinese naval activities, including simulated attacks on foreign ships in the East China Sea and Yellow Sea, suggest a focus on preparing for high-intensity conflicts. The simultaneous deployment of two carriers in the Pacific indicates that China is not only testing its operational capabilities but also signaling its intent to challenge the U.S.-led maritime order.
Geopolitical Ramifications
The sighting of the Liaoning and Shandong in the Pacific has far-reaching implications. For Japan, it underscores the need to bolster its defense capabilities and deepen alliances with the U.S., Australia, and other partners in the Quad. For the U.S., it highlights the challenge of maintaining naval dominance in the face of China’s rapid military buildup. The event also raises questions about the efficacy of the island chain strategy, as China demonstrates its ability to operate beyond these defensive lines.
For regional actors like Taiwan and the Philippines, the increased Chinese presence heightens the risk of escalation in contested areas. Taiwan, in particular, faces growing pressure as China’s naval activities encircle the island. The broader Indo-Pacific region, including ASEAN nations, must navigate the delicate balance of engaging with China economically while addressing its military assertiveness.
The simultaneous sighting of China’s Liaoning and Shandong aircraft carriers in the Pacific Ocean on June 7–8, 2025, marks a pivotal moment in the Indo-Pacific’s security landscape. This unprecedented event highlights China’s growing naval prowess, its intent to challenge the U.S.-led order, and the increasing complexity of regional dynamics. As Japan, the U.S., and their allies respond with enhanced surveillance and military deployments, the risk of miscalculation and escalation grows. The sighting serves as a stark reminder of the need for diplomatic engagement, robust deterrence, and a coordinated approach to maintaining stability in the Indo-Pacific. As China continues to expand its maritime reach, the world watches closely to see how this power play will reshape the region’s future.