For the first time, China’s navy is flexing its muscle far into the open Pacific Ocean with multiple aircraft carrier groups operating beyond its usual coastal waters—signaling a significant shift in regional power dynamics and showcasing new capabilities.Since early May, China’s three aircraft carriers—Shandong, Liaoning, and the newly built Fujian—have been at the center of expansive exercises across contested seas. Their operations spanned from waters near the Philippines and Taiwan to the far reaches of the Western Pacific, closer to Japan’s easternmost islands.A Growing Naval Footprint Shandong conducted drills southeast of Okinawa’s Miyako Island. Fujian, the most advanced Chinese carrier, tested its electromagnetic catapult system (EMALS) at sea—making China only the second nation after the U.S. to operate such a system. Liaoning, China’s first carrier, led training inside Japan’s exclusive economic zone.The Japanese Ministry of Defense noted that for the first time, two Chinese carrier groups operated in the open Pacific simultaneously—a move that highlights China’s ambition to operate far beyond the “first island chain,” which includes Taiwan, Japan, and the Philippines.Strategic SignificanceThese maneuvers, while labeled “routine training” by China’s navy, are widely interpreted as a strategic signal. The first island chain is a crucial geopolitical barrier for China, and its exercises spanned key maritime routes the U.S. would likely use to defend Taiwan in a conflict.A Taiwanese defense official pointed out that 70 Chinese naval and coast guard vessels were deployed across the region in May—an unusually high number even for China’s increasingly assertive maritime activity.“This projection of power goes beyond China’s defensive needs,” said the Taiwanese official, suggesting China may be attempting to gradually assert sovereignty over the first island chain through “salami-slicing” tactics—incremental moves that alter the status quo.Beyond TaiwanChina’s assertiveness doesn’t stop at Taiwan. It is also expanding its presence around: The Senkaku/Diaoyu Islands, claimed by both Japan and China Disputed features in the South China Sea, where confrontations with the Philippines have escalatedU.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, speaking at the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore, condemned Beijing’s coercive tactics, stating: “China is preparing, credibly, to use military force to change the balance of power in the Indo-Pacific.”New Capabilities in Distant WatersFor the first time, China has demonstrated sustained operations beyond the second island chain, which extends from Japan to U.S. territories like Guam and Palau.Japan confirmed Chinese carrier operations near Iwo Jima and Minamitorishima, signaling Beijing’s capability for extended missions well outside its usual zones of influence. “The PLA is demonstrating a capability for sustained carrier operations outside of the first island chain. This is a major milestone,” said Ray Powell of Stanford’s SeaLight maritime project.Carl Schuster, a former U.S. Navy captain, echoed this sentiment: “China has become a major naval power that can project strength deep into its neighbors’ waters—and intends to do so.”Powerful Warships and Ambitious ExpansionThe Chinese carrier strike groups now resemble U.S. formations, including: Type 055 destroyers, among the most powerful surface warships afloat (12,000-ton displacement) Type 052DM destroyers, smaller but modern and heavily armedChina now possesses the world’s largest navy by ship count, having surpassed the U.S. around 2020.A Global Times article hinted that China aims to deploy carrier groups in all major oceans. Military analyst Zhang Junshe argued that China’s growing overseas interests justify these global ambitions.The Fujian and Future PlansThe Fujian, China’s most advanced carrier: Displaces about 80,000 tons Uses EMALS, allowing it to launch aircraft with heavier payloads and at greater ranges Can host about 50 aircraft, including the stealthy J-35 fighter, which older Chinese carriers can’t supportIts maiden take-off and landing trials in the Yellow Sea’s Provisional Measures Zone (PMZ) were confirmed by South Korea, marking the first EMALS use at sea by China.Looking ahead, China is constructing its Type 004 carrier, expected to: Use nuclear propulsion (like the U.S. Navy’s carriers) Further extend operational range and endurance “China’s carrier program is expanding rapidly—not just in ships, but in aircraft capability too,” said Schuster.Caution from ExpertsDespite these advances, analysts urge against overestimating China’s carrier capabilities. “China’s carrier force is still in a developmental phase. It’s closing the gap, but still far behind the U.S. Navy’s decades of experience,” said Powell.Nonetheless, China’s recent naval operations send a clear signal: it intends to play a far more assertive role in regional—and global—maritime affairs.
