Despite bold moves by the People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN), China’s efforts to project power far into the Pacific remain constrained by geography and diplomatic isolation. The recent dual deployment of Chinese aircraft carriers in the Western Pacific marks a milestone, but also highlights Beijing’s limitations when compared to US-led coalitions that dominate Indo-Pacific waters.
PLAN's Pacific push: Farther, longer, bolder
In a first, China deployed two aircraft carriers -- Liaoning and Shandong -- simultaneously beyond the First Island Chain into the Western Pacific. These drills included “realistic combat training and adversarial drills,” as per China’s Ministry of National Defence. The two carrier groups remained deployed for record durations -- 24 and 16 days respectively -- conducting reconnaissance, counterstrike, and anti-surface warfare training.
According to researchers Yu-cheng Chen and K. Tristan Tang (The Jamestown Foundation), this marked three significant “firsts”:
- First dual-carrier operation in the Western Pacific.
- First time a PLAN carrier went beyond the porous Second Island Chain, coming closer to US strategic assets like Guam.
- Record operational duration of Chinese carrier groups beyond the First Island Chain.
This operational shift suggests the PLA now feels confident about dominance in nearby waters, including around Taiwan, and is pivoting toward far-seas mobile operations. However, experts caution that these extended deployments expose China’s core vulnerability: lack of logistics, allies, and reliable global bases.
Still hemmed in: Geography, strategy and the Island Chains
China’s naval ambitions face a serious geographical hurdle: the First Island Chain, stretching from Japan through Taiwan to the Philippines and Indonesia, naturally encircles its eastern seaboard. In the event of a conflict, especially over Taiwan, this chain acts as a formidable barrier to Chinese expansion.
Taiwan thus holds immense strategic value. Capturing it is not only a political goal for Beijing, but a strategic one -- breaking through the First Island Chain would provide open access to the wider Pacific.
Despite increased PLAN forays, including 90 aircraft sorties in one day during recent drills, long-range operations still expose Beijing’s vulnerabilities. Without a dependable logistics chain and shore-based support, China is forced to rely on raiding tactics and concentrated deployments, with limited sustainability.
As Chen and Tang wrote, “This shift brings Chinese forces closer to Hawaii... and may also compel (the US) to reconsider its force deployment and readiness posture throughout the Indo-Pacific.”
Allies make the difference: Talisman Sabre and interoperability
In stark contrast to China’s solo push, the USA and its allies continue to refine joint operations and demonstrate unmatched reach. During Exercise Talisman Sabre 2025 in Australia, the US Navy’s USS George Washington and the UK’s HMS Prince of Wales participated in a powerful joint show of force, supported by vessels from Australia, Canada, New Zealand and Norway.
Rear Admiral Eric Anduze (Commander, Carrier Strike Group Five) told ANI, “We rehearse our tactics and communications... All of these experiences increase interoperability and strengthen our alliance for the security and freedom of the Indo-Pacific.”
He emphasised the strategic edge that partnerships provide: “We have to do it with allies and partners in order to be successful and have the most impact.”
The exercise even saw inter-fly operations, where US Air Force pilots flew Australian F-35A fighters. As USAF’s Major Justin Lennon told ANI: “Having the added flexibility to put any pilot in any F-35... adds to the F-35 coalition’s lethality.”
Such seamless interoperability is something China -- isolated and lacking true military allies -- simply cannot replicate. For example, during the same exercise, the Canadian frigate HMCS Ville de Quebec was rearmed in Darwin by Australian forces — a feat only possible because of standardized systems and long-standing trust.
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