Looks like the Island disputes between Japan and China has created an incredibly tense situation between Superpowers with China looking to push to the Western Pacific. With the situation in North Korea that Trump seems to want to take a hardline stance on with China "Either you do something or we'll deal with it and it will be bad", we are looking at a multi-nation flashpoint with two major super powers involved
http://www.cnbc.com/2017/04/04/world...ource=Facebook
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Such airborne intercepts are on the rise over the East China Sea, with Japan now averaging roughly two intercepts of Chinese aircraft per day since April of last year, nearly twice as many as in the 12 months prior. In response to the uptick in Chinese military activity in airspace Japan considers its responsibility, JASDF has doubled the number of fighter aircraft at its Naha Air Base, adding a second squadron of F-15Js — the Japanese version of the U.S.-made F-15 fighter jet — in January of last year.
The increased intrusion of Chinese military air traffic into airspace protected by the JASDF, along with the uptick in aerial intercepts, heightens the risk of an accident or misunderstanding between the two militaries — a situation that could rapidly escalate, given the already heightened military tensions in the region. Such an incident, intentional or not, could quickly spiral, potentially drawing U.S. forces in the region into the fray.
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oday tensions in the region are heightened by new catalysts, primarily overlapping territorial claims in the East and South China seas, the lingering threat of military action on the Korean Peninsula, and an increasingly capable Chinese military that seeks to secure its near-abroad rivals through a mix of air and sea power. Neighboring U.S. allies, like South Korea, Taiwan and Japan, are forced to look on nervously as China continues to test and improve its capabilities in the western Pacific Ocean and in the seas abutting China to its south and east.
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Just some background
The Chinese are expecting to launch their first home built aircraft carrier the type 001a class which is a similar design to their first aircraft carrier which was purchased from Russia and completed. the Type 001a is based around the Kuznetzov class carrier. It is designed to carry 30 J15 fixed wing aircraft which is similar to the SU-33.
This will be the second aircraft carrier for the Chinese.
The third aircraft carrier the 002 which is expected to be completed in 2020 is a departure from the Kuznetzov class and is a complete Chinese design. Its expected to follow the design of US Aircraft carriers which use steam catapults instead of a sea jump. This will allow the Chinese to launch heavier aircraft with heavier payloads. The rumor is that this carrier will be capable of carrying up to 70 aircraft including advanced early warning aircraft and heavier fighter bombers.
The Chinese are also building their new modern type 95 nuclear subs and type 39a modern diesel electric subs.
China is also completing two more type 71 amphibious assault vessels and their type 75 assault ships that also double as a helicopter carrier.