The United States has deployed three naval vessels—including two aircraft carriers—capable of operating F-35 stealth fighter jets—across the Western Pacific this week amid China’s rapidly growing sea power and expanding maritime activity in the region. The Chinese Foreign Ministry did not immediately respond to a request for comment. The F-35 is a family of jets that comes in three variants: the A model, which operates from conventional runways; the B model, designed for short takeoffs and vertical landings from ships without full-length flight decks; and the C model, built for aircraft carrier operations. The U.S. military has stationed F-35B and F-35C jets in Japan. As part of the Pentagon’s efforts to contain the military threat from China, which is aiming to modernize its armed forces to reach “world-class” status by 2049, the U.S. Navy has maintained a strong presence in the Western Pacific.

Full report : US F-35 Jet Carriers Sent to West Pacific Amid China Naval Threat.