The first two weeks of January was especially hectic for the People's Liberation Army Navy Surface Force (PLANSF) as it held two major live-fire training exercises a week apart in the disputed South China Sea.

The obvious show of force was meant to convey the image of Chinese naval strength to China's two major naval opponents in Asia: the U.S. Navy and the resurgent Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF).

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Over the past few years, the United States has transformed Japan into an unsinkable aircraft carrier on which it's based its most advanced combat aircraft, including the first squadron of Lockheed Martin F-35B Joint Strike Fighters deployed outside the United States.

The stealth jets belong to Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 121 (VMFA-121), also known as the "Green Knights."

This squadron departed its former base at Marine Corps Air Station Yuma in Arizona on Jan. 9 with the first fighters arriving at Mrine Corps Air Station Iwakuni on Jan. 11. The remaining six stealth jets will be delivered in June by the USS Wasp (LHD-1), a Landing Helicopter Dock amphibious assault ship of the U.S. Navy.

"The arrival of the F-35B embodies our commitment to the defense of Japan and the regional security of the Pacific," said Maj. Gen. Russell Sanborn, the 1st Marine Aircraft Wing commanding general.

"We are bringing the most advanced technology to the Pacific to respond to the wide range of missions we take part in and provide greater support to our regional allies."

Iwakuni is also home to a Marine F/A-18D Hornet squadron and a squadron of KC-130J Hercules tanker-transport aircraft, along with a number of aircraft from the JMSDF. In addition, two more Marine Hornet squadrons are normally on temporary rotations to Iwakuni at any one time.

On the other hand, Japan continues to speed-up the already hectic pace of its military expansion as it rearms to deter China. In December 2016, it approved a record defense budget of $42.5 billion for the 2017-2018 fiscal year beginning April.

The increase in the defense budget is the fifth straight in the five years since Shinzo Abe became Prime Minister in December 2012.

Among the highlights of defense spending for the coming fiscal year are $619 million for new submarines with improved sensors. The new subs will expand Japan's fleet to 22 submarines from 16.

There's also $749 million for the Japan Air Self-Defense Force (JASDF) to purchase six more F-35 stealth fighters. JASDF will base its first F-35 squadron at its Misawa Air Base north of Tokyo.

In the face of this military might, the two live fire exercises in the South China Sea conducted by 12 PLANSF warships led by China's only aircraft carrier, the CNS Liaoning (CV-16), seem inconsequential.

The Liaoning led a five-ship squadron in practicing carrier strike group drills that also involved the launch and recovery of Shenyang J-15 carrier-borne, multi-role fighters.

A week later, a seven-ship squadron of the South Sea Fleet consisting of destroyers and frigates conducted a live-fire exercise at an undisclosed location in the South China Sea and practiced combat operations, including anti-submarine and air-defense.

This squadron consisted of the guided missile destroyers CNS Kunming (172); CNS Hefei (174), CNS Lanzhou (170) and CNS Haikou (171).

There were also the guided missile frigates CNS Hengshui (572) and CNS Liuzhou (573), along with the comprehensive supply ship Honghu (963).

TagsPeople's Liberation Army Navy Surface Force, PLANSF, South China Sea, U.S. Navy, Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force, Lockheed Martin F-35B Joint Strike Fighters, unsinkable aircraft carrier