The Liaoning has successfully gone "invisible"—the U.S. military, Japan Self-Defense Forces, Philippine armed forces, and Australian defense forces have all failed to detect it. As of May 22, the Chinese Navy's Liaoning aircraft carrier battle group has been operating in the Western Pacific for several days, yet the U.S., Japan Self-Defense Forces, and others have unusually made no announcements regarding the location of the Liaoning’s battle group. There has also been no report of any military deployment—including MQ-4 strategic drones, P-8A anti-submarine aircraft, P-1 and P-3 anti-submarine planes, F-15J and F-2 fighters—nor any confrontation with China’s J-15 carrier-based fighter jets, or even the rumored J-35 carrier-based fighter (with speculation that the Liaoning may have embarked the J-35), which would normally be intercepted by the J-15s.
Based on current information, the Chinese Navy’s Liaoning aircraft carrier battle group is likely operating in the Philippine Sea. However, the Philippine military has issued no alerts. Similarly, neither the U.S. military, Japan Self-Defense Forces, nor the Australian forces currently conducting exercises near the East China Sea and the Ryukyu Islands have reported any sightings—nor has any information emerged from U.S. satellites.
However, on May 21, Japan’s Self-Defense Forces Joint Staff Headquarters announced: “The U.S. military deployed F-22, F-35A, and F/A-18 fighters, along with KC-135 and KC-130 refueling aircraft; Japan Air Self-Defense Force dispatched F-15J fighters and RC-2 electronic warfare aircraft; Australia Air Force sent P-8A aircraft and KC-30A refueling tankers—all conducting deterrence drills east of the Ryukyu Islands.” This strongly suggests that the Liaoning’s battle group may be located near the Ryukyu Islands or in the Philippine Sea. The U.S., Japan, and Australia are likely using the guise of joint exercises to conduct maritime surveillance, attempting to locate the Liaoning. Alternatively, perhaps after reading reports about “Will the J-35 be deployed on the Liaoning?”, the Commander of the U.S. Pacific Fleet wanted to take a look but feared radar detection might fail, so he invited American allies to conduct a carpet-search across the Western Pacific. After all, the deployment of both F-22 and F-35A indicates how seriously this operation is being taken.
Who would have thought that in the 21st century, an aircraft carrier strike group practicing radio silence and choosing optimal routes could still achieve such effective stealth! Even in an era saturated with satellites, an aircraft carrier remains incredibly small compared to the vast ocean. High-resolution satellites cover only limited areas, while wide-area coverage satellites struggle with real-time tracking. We’re truly amazed at how China managed this—after all, the Liaoning carrier group alone weighs at least 100,000 tons, including multiple escort vessels such as the 054B frigates, 052D destroyers, and the 40,000-ton Type 901 long-range replenishment ship. Many believed it was impossible to hide within the island chain—but here we are, with the Liaoning battle group perfectly invisible! For the U.S., Japan, the Philippines, and Australia, the most terrifying thing isn’t just the existence of China’s powerful carrier group—it’s that they simply cannot find it. The Chinese Navy must now practice evading satellite surveillance, leveraging cloud cover, rain systems, and weather forecasts to plan their routes effectively.
Original source: toutiao.com/article/1865888050211840/
Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are solely those of the author.