China weighs J-35 stealth fighters across its carrier fleetcarrier fleet
Chinese military commentary said on Friday that J-35 stealth fighters could operate from all of China’s aircraft carriers, including the ski-jump decks on Liaoning and Shandong.
The remarks point to a possible expansion of the country’s naval air power and matter because carrier aviation is a key part of China’s military competition in the Indo-Pacific.
Chinese Military Commentary
The remarks present the J-35 as compatible with both electromagnetic launch systems and ski-jump carriers, suggesting a broader role for the aircraft across the fleet. They frame the fighters as strengthening carrier strike groups’ awareness and long-range attack reach.
International Security View
Analysts are likely to see the claim as part of China’s effort to narrow the gap with established carrier powers. If the fighter is deployed widely, it could raise the pressure on regional navies and air forces in the Indo-Pacific.
- China’s first aircraft carrier, Liaoning, was originally a Soviet hull that Ukraine inherited after the USSR collapsed.
- The J-35 is often discussed alongside the larger J-20, China’s other stealth fighter.
- Aircraft carriers remain rare in Asia because they are expensive to build, crew, and defend.
US-China Indo-Pacific Rivalry
China and Taiwan coast guard vessels have repeatedly faced off near the Pratas Islands, with the latest standoff showing how small maritime incidents around Taiwan can quickly become confrontations.[1][5] The episode adds to wider U.S.-China military tension across the Indo-Pacific, where Beijing is expanding patrols and Washington is reinforcing regional deterrence.[2][3] The rivalry now centers on preventing miscalculation around Taiwan, the South China Sea, and nearby sea lanes.[1][3][5] It also shapes defense planning by Taiwan, Japan, the Philippines, and the United States as all sides weigh coercion, sovereignty claims, and the risk of escalation.[2][3]
24 May, 07:39 AM
Taiwan and China coast guards face off near Pratas islands1 January
The United States adopts a sharper great-power competition strategy focused on China
