The United States and its allies in the Pacific region have deployed several aircraft carriers and F-35 fighters near China, according to The New York Times. This move, involving allies such as Australia, Japan, and South Korea, is part of a broader Washington strategy to contain the Chinese military threat in the area. The U.S. Indo-Pacific Command, based in Hawaii, stated that the F-35s enhance joint operational capabilities and strengthen the combined combat power of the U.S. and its allies. Meanwhile, the Chinese embassy in Washington warned that the U.S. deployment of offensive weapons near China could turn the region into a “powder keg” and called for respect of Beijing’s security concerns to maintain regional peace and stability. The U.S.

maintains multiple bases in Japan, including the Iwakuni Air Base, hosting fleets of F-35B and F-35C fighters aboard the USS America amphibious assault ship stationed in Sasebo, Japan. Japan’s Misawa base will receive 48 F-35A fighters to replace 36 F-15s. Japan holds the largest foreign fleet of F-35s, ordering 147 aircraft to become the largest customer. South Korea ordered 60 F-35A fighters, having received 40 so far, all stationed at two bases in Cheongju, with plans to establish a second base due to North Korean threats. Australia is the only Southern Hemisphere country operating U.S. F-35s, having acquired 72 F-35A fighters. According to Chloe Morgan, spokesperson for the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command, the F-35s feature stealth technology and an advanced sensor suite enabling rapid information sharing with command centers and platforms.

Lockheed Martin developed three F-35 variants, with the F-35A being the most common, capable of conventional takeoff and landing, and short takeoff and vertical landing from ships without full-length runways. Over 1,215 fighters have been delivered to 20 countries across North America, Europe, the Middle East, Asia, and Oceania, operating from 37 air bases and 12 naval ships. Newsweek reported that Washington aims to expand F-35 deployment in the Western Pacific to counter China’s growing air power. Singapore is preparing to become the next regional F-35 operator, having committed to purchasing 12 fighters of various variants.