Tensions Rise as China’s Dual Aircraft Carrier Drills Alarm Japan

Picture Credit: BBC

In a rare and assertive military maneuver, China has deployed its two aircraft carriers — the Shandong and Liaoning — to conduct simultaneous drills in the Pacific, raising alarm in Tokyo. Over 500 fighter jet and helicopter takeoffs and landings have been recorded near Japanese territory since May 25, with some aircraft flying close to Japanese surveillance planes, prompting Japan to issue formal protests.

For the first time, Japan publicly released a map showing the carriers’ daily movements, revealing their presence in Japan’s Exclusive Economic Zone and even past the critical “second island chain,” a strategic line in U.S. military doctrine. One incident saw a Chinese fighter jet trail a Japanese aircraft for 40 minutes — an “abnormal approach” that Tokyo warned could cause collisions.

While Beijing insists its actions comply with international law, it accused Japan of provoking risk through close surveillance. The drills also serve to spotlight China’s growing military capabilities — including progress on its third carrier, the Fujian, which will soon rival U.S. carriers with advanced electromagnetic catapult launch systems.

The timing has not gone unnoticed. As the U.S. shifts military focus toward the Middle East, analysts say China is strategically “testing the waters” of U.S.-Japan resolve. Experts warn these moves reflect a gradual but deliberate escalation as Beijing probes for weaknesses in regional defense — a geopolitical game of patience and power projection in the Indo-Pacific.