China’s aircraft carrier, liaoning, entered Japan’s exclusive economic zone (EEZ) on Saturday, moving within 200 miles of Eastern Minamitori Island. This marked the first instance of a Chinese naval group navigating through Japan’s Tokai region.
The liaoning was accompanied by two missile destroyers and a supply ship. After exiting the Japanese EEZ, the carrier group conducted takeoff and landing exercises for fighter jets and helicopters, all under the vigilant watch of Japanese warships in the vicinity.
Chinese carrier groups are expected to navigate through the southwest part of Iwo Jima on Sunday.
The Japanese government expressed discomfort regarding the liaoning‘s short passage through its EEZ, yet chose not to make a formal protest to Beijing. Yoshimasa, the Director of the Forest Bureau stated that Japan had “transmitted an appropriate message to China.”
A spokesperson for the Japanese Ministry of Defense commented, “We believe the Chinese military is trying to enhance its operational capabilities and its ability to conduct operations in distant areas.”
This situation isn’t entirely unexpected. After all, investing billions into the development of aircraft carriers implies a desire to operate in distant regions.
China currently boasts three aircraft carriers, which are certainly more advanced than the previous model, but even these newer versions are smaller and less capable than their American counterparts. The liaoning, originally a retired Russian ship, was acquired from Ukraine in 1998 and commissioned in 2012. Some Russian legislators have criticized Ukraine for selling the vessel for what they deemed a trivial price.
Initially, China intended to use the liaoning for testing and training. However, it later opted to form a combat group around the ship, deploying it for patrolling, which might be seen as intimidating near Taiwan. The PLA seems to be putting its initial investment to good use by performing military drills observable by Taiwan, Japan, and the Philippines.
In September 2024, the liaoning sailed close to Taiwan, hovering between the islands of Yonaguni in southern Japan and Iriomote. The Japanese Ministry of Defense was displeased with the route taken by the carrier but acknowledged that it “did not breach Japanese territory.”
Yonaguni is Japan’s westernmost island and lies about 70 miles from Taiwan’s eastern coastline. It’s a small, picturesque spot known for its natural beauty and scuba diving. Iriomote is a larger island in Okinawa, mostly covered by mountains and forests, remaining largely uninhabited.
Tokyo perceives the liaoning‘s activity in the East Sea as more provocative than a cruise near tourist spots close to Taiwan. Lin Jiang, a spokesperson for China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, asserted that the actions of the liaoning were not offensive.
“The operations of Chinese military vessels in these waters are in line with international norms. China adopts a defensive defense policy. We hope Japan can view these actions with a balanced perspective,” Lin remarked.
As for the other two Chinese carriers, the Shandong is scheduled to conduct takeoff and landing drills in the Pacific over the weekend, approximately 300 miles southwest of Iwajima. Japan has sent both surface and aerial assets to monitor this second carrier’s activities.
The latest and most advanced Chinese carrier, Fujian Province, was observed conducting flight operations in the Yellow Sea near Korea in late May.
While it doesn’t seem that South Korea has filed a formal complaint regarding the Fujian Province, the vessel reportedly became the first Chinese carrier to operate in an area known as the Interim Measurement Zone along the EEZs of China and South Korea, designated as a consultative area 25 years ago.
China declared “no-sales zones” in this area in May, suggesting its intent to conduct military exercises in those waters. According to South Korea’s defense secretary, there’s little incentive for China to deploy aircraft in the PMZ, other than to issue a strong signal of its naval power.
In a recent publication, the South Korean Chosun Ilbo linked the activities of the three Chinese carriers with a strategy to expand “China’s Territorial Water” and build military strength against the alliances formed with South Korea and Japan.
Despite the shallow depths and vulnerabilities to anti-ship missiles, China is reportedly enhancing combat readiness for operations that may not even be fully suitable for carrier missions, according to Chosun Ilbo.
The editor pondered, “What repercussions could arise for the South Korean Peninsula with China’s maneuvering in the West Sea amid the crises related to Taiwan and North Korea?”
Recent satellite images showed the Fujian Province returning to its homeport on May 29th, confirming that this latest carrier had completed its eighth “Sea Trial.” Commissioned in 2022, it is expected to be fully operational within the next year.
