China’s commissioning of its third aircraft carrier, the Fujian, is rapidly shifting the Pacific balance of power, according to a report from Nikkei Asia on Saturday. This move marks a significant step in China’s growing military capabilities and heightens pressure on Japan.
In December 2025, China capped a year of increased military activity with large-scale drills around Taiwan. These exercises, which included the deployment of amphibious assault vessels and drones, took place just east of Taiwan and close to Japan’s Yonaguni Island, Japan’s westernmost territory. Between December 29-31, Japan’s Prime Minister, Takaichi Sanae, received 12 situation reports, reflecting Tokyo’s heightened vigilance over the ongoing developments.
Defense officials in Japan have expressed concerns about the increasing risks along Japan’s southwestern flank, with analysts suggesting that China’s military maneuvers are increasingly aimed at deterring potential US and Japanese intervention in a Taiwan contingency. The exercises are also putting significant pressure on Japan’s air and maritime defenses.
Notably, China’s Liaoning aircraft carrier conducted maneuvers around Okinawa’s main island from December 6-12. This island is home to key US and Japanese military bases. During these exercises, Chinese fighter jets repeatedly took off from the Liaoning within Japan’s air defense identification zone (ADIZ), and Japan reported that Chinese military aircraft targeted its scrambled jets with radar, escalating tensions between the two nations.
The commissioning of the Fujian in November 2025 adds to China’s growing naval power. The Fujian joins the Liaoning and the Shandong, which have conducted simultaneous exercises near the “second island chain,” including Japan’s Ogasawara Islands. With three aircraft carriers in service, China can now sustain operations farther from its shores, rotating vessels for maintenance with fewer gaps, significantly enhancing its ability to project power across the Pacific.
China’s air force is also expanding rapidly, with its fleet of modern fighter jets quintupling in size in under 20 years. Japan’s Defense Ministry reported that China now operates 1,668 fourth- and fifth-generation fighter jets as of 2025, while other regional powers have seen little change in their air fleets.
Simultaneously, China’s naval capabilities have also expanded, with its total naval displacement increasing by 25% between 2019 and 2025. In contrast, Japan’s Maritime Self-Defense Force and US forces stationed in Japan have not seen similar growth.
Experts, such as Ohara Bonji of the Sasakawa Peace Foundation, note that China is developing vessels capable of launching multiple types of missiles to penetrate enemy air defenses, signaling a shift toward more complex and high-intensity military operations.
This growing military presence coincides with the United States’ National Security Strategy, which has shifted focus to the Western Hemisphere. In response, Japan is revising its own security documents and strengthening ties with international partners, including Australia, the Philippines, Europe, and India, to bolster regional stability and counterbalance China’s growing influence.
