China has deployed naval vessels beyond an island chain in the Western Pacific—a strategic barrier to contain its forces—passing through waterways near Japan, a close United States ally.

Newsweek has reached out to the Chinese Defense Ministry for comment by email.

Why It Matters

Japan, Taiwan and the Philippines form the First Island Chain—an arc of allied territories aimed at limiting China‘s access to the broader Western Pacific under a U.S. containment strategy. The Chinese navy is the world’s largest by hull count, with more than 370 vessels.

The Chinese military has frequently used waterways around Japan—including the Osumi Strait and the Miyako Strait—for naval deployments beyond the First Island Chain. Beijing claims that it is exercising its rights under an international maritime law treaty.

Since mid-May, China has sent multiple warships to waters east of the First Island Chain, according to the Japanese Defense Ministry—including a naval task group led by the aircraft carrier CNS Liaoning and another centered around the amphibious assault ship CNS Anhui.

What To Know

The Joint Staff of the Japanese Defense Ministry reported that two Chinese naval vessels—the Type 055 destroyer CNS Lhasa and the Type 054A frigate CNS Weifang—transited the Osumi Strait, south of Japan’s main island of Kyushu, between Wednesday and Thursday.

Meanwhile, another pair of Chinese naval vessels—the Type 054A frigate CNS Yantai and the Type 903A replenishment ship CNS Kekexilihu—passed through the Miyako Strait, located between the southwestern Japanese islands of Miyako and Okinawa, on Thursday.

A map provided by the Japan Joint Staff shows both Chinese naval groups sailing from the East China Sea toward the Philippine Sea. The Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force has sent ships and aircraft to track and monitor the Chinese vessels while gathering intelligence.

While details of the most recent Chinese naval deployments remain unclear, the Chinese navy on Friday released four photos on X (formerly Twitter) showing the Lhasa and the Kekexilihu conducting air and naval live-fire drills in an undisclosed maritime location.

The drills were aimed at “honing its capability to safeguard maritime rights and interests,” the Chinese navy said. Both ships can be seen sailing in formation in the photos, while the Lhasa is shown launching a missile and firing its main gun at a target.

What People Are Saying

Mao Ning, spokesperson for the Chinese Foreign Ministry, said of the Liaoning aircraft carrier group on May 28: “China’s military vessels’ activities in relevant waters are fully consistent with international law and international practice. We hope Japan will view this from an objective and reasonable perspective.”

The Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force says of its missions: “There exist challenges to the free use of oceans and freedom of navigation…The [Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force] conducts patrol and surveillance and training on a daily basis to protect the safe and free use of oceans as the [lifeline] of Japan [which is] surrounded by the sea.”

What Happens Next

It remains to be seen whether China will disclose details of its naval activities in the broader Western Pacific, as Beijing continues to expand its military reach and presence in the region.