In an unprecedented show of strength, the Chinese aircraft carriers Liaoning and Shandong have been conducting exercises in the western Pacific Ocean beyond the second island chain, according to the Japanese defence ministry.
In a statement on Monday, the ministry said the Shandong strike group was spotted earlier that day, conducting take-off and landing operations of its jet fighters and helicopters about 500km (311 miles) southwest of Iwo Jima and north of Okinotori.
It followed the ministry’s statement on Sunday that the Liaoning group had been located on Saturday 300km (186 miles) southwest of Minamitori Island. It was seen again on Sunday, a little further away. The carrier was also reported to be operating its ship-borne air wings.
All of the isles mentioned are in Japan’s Ogasawara Islands, also known as the Bonins. Alongside Guam and the rest of the Marianas, as well as the western Carolines and other small Pacific archipelagos, they form a strategic band known as the second island chain.
Most notably, the Liaoning group travelled further east than Guam, the most fortified US military base in the band, marking the first time a Chinese navy carrier has reached beyond the second island chain.
Previous deployments – by the Liaoning in December 2022 and the Shandong in April 2023 – were some distance northwest of Guam. The Liaoning’s easternmost recorded location this time was about 3,200km (1,990 miles) from Midway Atoll and 5,500km (3,420 miles) from Hawaii.
The two 60,000-tonne Kuznetsov-class vessels – the PLA Navy’s only active carriers, with the Fujian still undergoing sea trials – were escorted by warships of significant size, representing China’s most powerful maritime strike forces to date.
With the Shandong is the 12,000-tonne Type 055 destroyer Zunyi and the 7,500-tonne Type 052D guided-missile destroyer Zhanjiang, as well as the 4,000-tonne Type 054A guided-missile frigates Yuncheng and Hengshui, along with the fast combat support ship Chaganhu.
The Liaoning on Saturday was accompanied by Type 055 guided-missile destroyer the Wuxi and Type 052D guided-missile destroyer the Tangshan, in addition to the fast combat support ship Hulunhu.
Liaoning was joined by another fleet which included the Type 055 destroyer Nanchang, Type 052D destroyer Qiqihar, Type 054A guided-missile frigate Yantai, and another replenishment ship Kekexilihu.
The Japan Maritime Self-Defence Force said it dispatched warships and aircraft to monitor the Chinese activities.
According to Tokyo, the Liaoning and its escorts entered the Pacific from the East China Sea through the international waterway between the Japanese islands of Okinawa and Miyako between May 26-27 and headed southeast until May 30.
The carrier group was next reported near Minamitori, Japan’s easternmost island, on Saturday. Guam lies between the two known locations, suggesting it was passed by the Liaoning at some point. How closely the carrier and its escorts sailed to the US base is unknown.
It is also unknown whether the Liaoning and Shandong groups are planning to join forces in the Pacific. The two carrier fleets last conducted joint exercises in October, in the South China Sea.
When asked at the end of last month about the Liaoning’s voyage, the Chinese defence ministry said the training exercise was “not targeting any country”, and that Japan was “overreacting”.
On Monday, Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Lin Jian said the carrier’s activities “completely comply with international law and practices”.
“China has always pursued a defensive national defence policy. We hope that Japan can see this in an objective and rational manner,” Lin told the ministry’s regular news conference.
