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Two Chinese carriers reported operating at once in Pacific

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Chinese navy honing ability to operate far from its shores

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Taiwan expects deliveries of new F-16 fighter jets

TAIPEI, June 11 (Reuters) - The two Chinese aircraft

carriers spotted conducting simultaneous operations in the

Pacific for the first time send a political message about the

country's "expansionist" aims, Taiwan Defence Minister

Wellington Koo said on Wednesday.

Japan's defence minister said the previous day that the

appearance of the Chinese aircraft carriers signified Beijing's

intention to further widen its capabilities beyond its borders.

Koo said the armed forces had a "full grasp" of the

carriers' movements.

"Crossing from the first island chain into the second island

chain sends a definite political message and their expansionist

nature can be seen," he told reporters in Taipei.

The first island chain refers to an area that runs from

Japan down to Taiwan, the Philippines and Borneo, while the

second island chain spreads further out into the Pacific to

include places like the U.S. territory of Guam.

China's navy, which has been honing its abilities to operate

farther and farther from the country's coast, said on Tuesday

the carrier operations were a "routine training" exercise that

did not target specific countries or regions. China operates two

carriers, with a third undergoing sea trials.

Taiwan, which China views as its own territory, keeps a

close watch on Chinese military movements given the regular

drills and war games Beijing stages around the island, and has

been modernising its weapons to better face the People's

Liberation Army.

Taiwan Air Force Chief of Staff Lee Ching-jan, speaking to

lawmakers later on Wednesday, said a dozen or so of 66 Lockheed

Martin F-16V fighter jets ordered from the United States

should arrive this year, with the rest in 2026.

"The U.S. side was optimistic about next year's

scheduled delivery at last month's meeting on the project, and

was very optimistic about the delivery of more than 10 aircraft

this year," he said.

Taiwan has complained about delivery

delays

for the jets, which have advanced avionics, weapons and

radar systems to better face down the Chinese air force,

including its J-20 stealth fighter.

Since May, China has been flexing its muscles by sending an

unusually large number of naval and coast guard vessels through

a swathe of East Asian waters, according to security documents

and officials, in moves that have unnerved regional capitals.

Japan's defence ministry confirmed the two carriers,

Liaoning and Shandong, were operating in separate areas of the

Pacific on Saturday, both near remote southern islands belonging

to Japan.

Earlier, Japan said the Liaoning sailed within its exclusive

economic zone (EEZ) near Minamitorishima, a remote island east

of Iwo Jima.