In the course of this morning, Japan’s Self-Defense Forces have announced that they remain vigilant over a Chinese Navy flotilla heading toward the Pacific, especially while transiting the waters between Okinawa Island and Miyako Island. As was officially reported, one of the P-3C Naha maritime patrol aircraft (the local designation for the Orion), which operates under the 5th Air Group of the Maritime Self-Defense Force, was deployed for this purpose.
Reviewing the details of the report, Tokyo states that a total of five ships forming said flotilla were detected, all sailing south of the aforementioned islands. In particular, a Luyang III-class guided missile destroyer (number 132) and two Jiangkai II-class frigates (numbers 529 and 530) were mentioned, escorting two landing ships; one Yusheng-class (number 33) and another Yujiao-class (number 980).
The news of the deployment occurs practically at the same time that the Chinese Navy reports the arrival of the Type 052D destroyer CNS Baotou at the port of Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates, as part of a stopover for maintenance and resupply of the ship; being accompanied by the frigate CNS Honghe (number 523) and the logistics ship CNS Gaoyouhu (number 904). Far from being a significant event due to the stopover itself, the focus should be placed on Beijing’s increasing interest in projecting its naval power abroad, especially at a time of high tensions with the U.S.; and between the latter and Iran in the Middle East region.
In that sense, it should also be remembered that the force is working on expanding its naval bases in order to facilitate the deployment of its growing fleet in the Indo-Pacific, especially its aircraft carriers. This could be observed through the publication of new satellite images by the European Space Agency, which reveal the construction work being carried out at Yuchi Naval Base in the city of Qingdao, known for being the home port of the aircraft carrier CNS Liaoning. Considering that a new pier capable of accommodating an aircraft carrier is being built, Western analysts speculate about a possible reorganization that would allow assigning a defined home port for the Fujian vessel, currently moored at a shipyard in Shanghai.
*Images used for illustrative purposes
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