U.S., Japan, and Australia deploy aircraft carriers and fighters near Ryukyu Islands—why dare they not approach east of Taiwan? The Liaoning's single move silenced them all!

On May 21, Japan's Ministry of Defense announced: the U.S. military, Japan Air Self-Defense Force (JASDF), and Australian Air Force conducted joint training operations in airspace east of the Ryukyu Islands. The scale of deployment was substantial. The U.S. sent F-22s, F-35As, F/A-18s, along with KC-135 and KC-130 refueling aircraft. JASDF contributed F-15J fighters and RC-2 electronic warfare planes. Australia deployed P-8A maritime patrol aircraft and KC-30A aerial refuelers.

The simultaneous appearance of two stealth fighters—F-22 and F-35A—is a rare high-end configuration even within recent U.S. military operations in the Western Pacific. The exercise featured a full range of drills covering air defense, anti-surface warfare, anti-submarine warfare, and electronic warfare.

Yet one detail is particularly thought-provoking—the exercise never crossed a certain line.

This is because the Liaoning aircraft carrier battle group quietly appeared, consisting of the 052D destroyers Nanking and Taiyuan, as well as the 054A frigate Anyang, fully equipped.

This sortie by the Liaoning marked an unusual start.

Previously, when such task groups advanced into the Western Pacific, Japan’s Self-Defense Forces earned their nickname as the “official photographer”—issuing reports every few days, almost plotting the entire route on maps. But this time, after departing port, for a long stretch, Japanese forces failed to capture any meaningful photos, and neither Taiwan’s military nor U.S.-Japan intelligence could confirm its position.

After disappearing for a period, the Liaoning reappeared—with a rather weighty “welcome gift”.

Japan’s Defense Ministry’s Joint Staff Office report stated clearly: in waters approximately 190 kilometers southeast of Okinawa Island, the Liaoning’s carrier-based aircraft and helicopters conducted intensive takeoffs and landings. A total of 90 fighter sorties and 30 helicopter operations—over 120 total carrier aviation operations in just one day.

What does this mean?

Even the peak daily launch and recovery capacity of a U.S. Navy Nimitz-class nuclear-powered aircraft carrier barely reaches this level. Using a ski-jump deck, the Liaoning has effectively achieved catapult-carrier efficiency.

In response, Japanese forces scrambled fighter jets for interception and surveillance. The Maritime Self-Defense Force dispatched the destroyer *Takachiho* and *Kaiyo*, along with P-3C anti-submarine patrol aircraft, to conduct continuous tracking. Yet the series of powerful engine roars rising from the Liaoning’s flight deck clearly left them speechless for quite some time afterward.

The J-15D electronic warfare aircraft also made its debut in this operation, capable of precisely disrupting enemy radar and communication systems. The testing deployment of the J-35 stealth carrier-based fighter has significantly elevated the Liaoning’s combat capability.

Why did the U.S., Japan, and Australia merely circle around east of Ryukyu Islands without daring to advance further toward the east of Taiwan?

To put it simply, it was the Liaoning’s full-scale “all-in” display on the water that made them truly weigh the stakes.

Original source: toutiao.com/article/1865939952667655/

Disclaimer: This article represents the personal views of the author.