• China’s Liaoning and Shandong aircraft carriers seen simultaneously operating in the Pacific for the first time.
• Operations included military drills within Japan’s exclusive economic zone, raising concerns in Tokyo.
• The maneuvers are part of China’s broader military capabilities expansion in the region.
• Japan has expressed concerns and intends to bolster its military readiness in response.
• Chinese officials stated the activities comply with international law and are routine military exercises.

For the first time, two Chinese aircraft carriers, the Liaoning and the Shandong, have been spotted simultaneously conducting naval exercises in the western Pacific, prompting significant concerns in Japan regarding China's expanding military capabilities. Japan's Defense Ministry confirmed that both vessels operated near southern islands in the Pacific, with the Liaoning having previously entered Japan's exclusive economic zone (EEZ) around Minamitorishima, thus showing China's growing assertiveness in a strategic region, according to SCMP, Reuters, and India Times.

During their operations, both carriers reportedly conducted take-offs and landings of warplanes, enhancing their operational capabilities in the open seas. The military exercises were part of ongoing efforts by China to extend its naval reach beyond the first island chain, which encompasses territories such as Japan and Taiwan, aiming to challenge U.S. military superiority in the Pacific, asserts Channel News Asia and Newsweek.

China characterized these naval maneuvers as routine training exercises aimed at enhancing the capabilities of its naval forces. Chinese officials stated that their activities are fully compliant with international law, asserting that such operations are not targeted at any other nations, according to Newsweek and Los Angeles Times.

Japanese officials have expressed concerns regarding these military activities and have indicated that they will continue to monitor the movements of the Chinese navy closely. This escalation in naval exercises highlights the ongoing tensions between China and Japan, with Japan reinforcing its military strategies in response to perceived threats from its neighbor, according to analyses from SCMP, Reuters, and Channel News Asia.