Japan said it observed two Chinese aircraft carriers and supporting warships operating simultaneously near remote Japanese islands in the Pacific Ocean for the first time, a new demonstration of Beijing’s advancing naval capabilities. The aircraft carrier Shandong was seen sailing into the Pacific at the weekend and identified on Monday conducting fighter jet and helicopter take-off and landing training, according to Japan’s Joint Staff Office. That was occurring inside the exclusive economic zone around the Japanese atoll of Okinotori, around 1,740 km south of Tokyo, the office said. On Saturday the carrier Liaoning was seen inside the EEZ of the uninhabited Japanese island of Minamitori, more than 1,800 km southeast of Tokyo, and remained in the region with other warships on Sunday, the Joint Staff Office said earlier. “This is the first time we’ve identified two Chinese aircraft carriers operating in the Pacific Ocean at the same time,” Japanese Defense Minister Gen Nakatani said in a press conference on Tuesday, adding that Tokyo had lodged its concerns over the activity to Beijing. While the two aircraft carriers don’t appear to have been operating together, such as by flying aircraft between their decks, their simultaneous presence represents a new level of naval power projection that comes as the US and its allies are seeking to counter Beijing’s military rise.

Full report : Japan sights two Chinese aircraft carriers in Pacific for first time.