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Japan reportedly conducted a military training exercise simulating attacks on aircraft carriers in June. At the same time, China deployed two aircraft carrier groups in the wider Pacific Ocean.
Newsweek has emailed both countries’ relevant ministries for comment: Japan’s Defense Ministry and China’s Foreign Ministry.
Why It Matters
China boasts the world’s largest navy by hull count, with over 370 combat ships and submarines, including two aircraft carriers. In June, both the Liaoning and Shandong operated on the eastern side of the First Island Chain—a U.S.-led defensive line in the Western Pacific—from late May to mid-June.
Japan faces what it describes as “the greatest strategic challenge” from China. To counter this, Japan has been converting two warships into aircraft carriers, acquiring carrier-based stealth fighter jets, and deploying tilt-rotor aircraft. In June, Japanese F-2 fighter jets conducted training exercises simulating anti-ship attacks near the disputed Senkaku Islands in the East China Sea.
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What to Know
The Yomiuri Shimbun reported that Japan’s F-2 fighter jets “checked procedures” for carrying out missile attacks on aircraft carriers during a training exercise over waters north of the Senkaku Islands. This training was conducted amid China’s dual aircraft carrier deployment, which saw both the Liaoning and Shandong operate near the First Island Chain in early June.
During this period, the Liaoning transited near the Senkaku Islands in late May before heading towards the Pacific Ocean. It returned to China near these islands again in mid-June. The Yomiuri Shimbun report highlighted that Japan’s training exercise would likely be visible to Chinese forces and was not conducted in a standard location for the Japanese military.
Each F-2 fighter jet can carry up to four anti-ship missiles, optimizing it for an air-to-surface role to protect Japan’s sea lanes. The Japanese defense ministry reportedly conducted a training exercise simulating attacks on aircraft carriers near disputed Senkaku Islands in June.
During China’s dual aircraft carrier mission, the Liaoning and Shandong transited near these islands twice: once heading towards the Pacific Ocean and then returning to China. One Chinese aircraft carrier played the role of a U.S. aircraft carrier during this deployment, while the other tested interception capabilities, simulating counter-U.S. military intervention scenarios.
In June, Japan’s F-2 fighter jets checked anti-ship attack procedures with missiles during training exercises in waters north of Senkaku Islands. This was conducted to ensure China understood that these were defensive maneuvers aimed at countering potential threats from Chinese aircraft carriers.
The Chinese navy stated that the dual carrier deployment significantly enhanced combat readiness through joint drills on various maritime and air defense operations.
Japan, supported by the U.S., continues to strengthen its naval capabilities in response to China’s increasing military presence near the First Island Chain.
