China Embarks on Unprecedented Naval Campaign

An unprecedented Chinese naval campaign extending into the Western Pacific Ocean is currently underway, reported opfor Journal on Tuesday.

Aircraft carriers: In the past month, all three of China’s aircraft carriers have been in simultaneous operation. This is a dramatic first in China’s naval rise.

The Liaoning and Shandong aircraft carriers are currently commissioned in the Chinese Navy. The third, the Fujian, has been undertaking sea trials since its launch on June 17, 2022, and is set to be commissioned within the year.

Expanding eastward: Japanese Defense Minister Nakatani Gen highlighted two key developments in China’s naval operations at a June 10 press conference.

• Liaoning crossed into waters east of Iwo Jima on June 7, marking the first time a Chinese aircraft carrier has operated past the Second Island Chain.

• In another first, both the Liaoning and the Shandong have been conducting simultaneous operations in the Western Pacific beyond the First Island Chain, extending their reach from previous drills in the South China Sea.

Chinese takeover: As the United States draws down its presence in the Pacific, China is expanding into the vacuum. China’s increasing naval activity in Pacific waters is part of its larger strategy to control vital waterways and forcibly establish itself as a dominant global superpower.

To understand where China’s actions are leading, read “China Is Steering the World Toward War.”