Station HYPO

Recent drills near Japan reflect China’s ambitions to extend its navy’s reach and exert greater influence, in the Pacific and beyond.

As China girds for a deepening global rivalry with the United States, Beijing is testing how far its navy can operate from home, and how well its warships can work together on the open seas. In recent exercises involving two aircraft carriers, China gave a bold display of how it seeks to assert dominance in the western Pacific.

On Jan. 17, 1941, almost 11 months before the United States entered World War II, the Office of the Chief of Naval Operations (CNO) asked the commandant of the 13th Naval District to find a location for the re-arming and refueling of Navy patrol planes operating in defense of Puget Sound, should such defense be necessary.

On 10 July 2025, China’s large-scale naval formation training near Taiwan signals a sharp escalation in amphibious readiness across the Strait. As reported by Global Times, this maneuver coincided with Taiwan’s live-fire exercise using US-supplied M1A2T Abrams tanks. The timing underscores the PLA’s intent to mirror and counter Taipei’s defensive posturing. This show of force highlights the deepening military brinkmanship that could reshape regional security dynamics. The drills shed light on Beijing’s amphibious capabilities and its reaction to perceived threats from Taipei’s bolstered armor.