US allies plan to flex aircraft carrier muscles near China
The British aircraft carrier HMS Prince of Wales and its strike group are scheduled to visit Japan from August to September, Tokyo's defense ministry confirmed to Newsweek, adding that both sides are currently coordinating joint training exercises.
Newsweek has reached out to the Chinese Defense Ministry for comment via email.
The Prince of Wales began an eight-month mission, Operation Highmast, in April, leading a fleet of warships and carrying up to two dozen F-35B stealth fighter jets for exercises and operations across the Mediterranean, Middle East, Southeast Asia, Japan and Australia.
In response to China's growing naval threat, Japan is converting two Izumo-class helicopter carriers-JS Izumo and JS Kaga-into aircraft carriers. It has also ordered up to 42 F-35B jets-capable of short takeoffs and vertical landings-to operate from the two warships.
The reported joint aircraft carrier operations between the U.K. and Japan follow China's unprecedented dual aircraft carrier deployment in the broader western Pacific in June.
Newspaper The Japan Times reported on Wednesday that British F-35B jets deployed aboard the Prince of Wales could conduct flight operations from the Kaga as part of joint operations between the Royal Navy and the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force.
If confirmed, this would mark the second time the Kaga has conducted flight operations with F-35B jets since last November, when it carried out flight tests off the coast of California.
According to the report, the British aircraft carrier is expected to dock at Yokosuka naval base and in Tokyo during its time in Japan. Yokosuka is also home to the U.S. aircraft carrier USS George Washington, which is currently operating in the South China Sea.
Following its visit to Singapore in late June, the Prince of Wales was underway in the Java Sea the Royal Navy disclosed in a post on X (formerly Twitter) on Thursday. The aircraft carrier is en route to northern Australia for Exercise Talisman Sabre.
It remains unclear whether the Prince of Wales will conduct any flight operations with the U.S. amphibious assault ship USS America, which is also capable of operating F-35B jets. As of Friday, the America was underway in the Coral Sea, off Australia's northeast coast.
The Royal Navy said in a press release on June 23: 'In each port, the ships [of the U.K. Carrier Strike Group] will promote the Strike Groups overarching mission-demonstrating the U.K.'s commitment to the security and prosperity of the Indo-Pacific region alongside allies and partners, including celebrating 60 years of Anglo-Singaporean relations, making us secure at home and strong abroad.'
Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force Vice Admiral Yoshihiro Goka, commander of the Fleet Escort Force, said in a press release in November 2024: 'We believe that the acquisition of F-35B operational capability for the JS Izumo class destroyers will [enhance] Japanese defense capability and interoperability between Japan and the U.S. and will strengthen the deterrence and response capabilities of the countries as well as ultimately contribute to peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific region.'
The deployment of the Prince of Wales to the western Pacific comes as the U.S. has only one aircraft carrier stationed in the region amid efforts to counter China's military presence.
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