US Doubles Stealth Jets Presence Near China

The United States has dispatched a second group of stealth fighter jets to Kadena Air Base in Japan, reinforcing its air power to counter China in the contested western Pacific Ocean. Kadena Air Base, located on the island of Okinawa, is the closest U.S. air base to Taiwan, with a distance of 370 miles. China has long threatened to use force against the self-ruled island of Taiwan, claiming it is part of Beijing's territory, despite having never governed it.

Under a U.S. maritime containment strategy, Japan, a key treaty ally of Washington, formed the first island chain with Taiwan and the Philippines, which seeks to restrict the Chinese military's access to the Pacific Ocean, in addition to the second and third island chains.

The U.S. Air Force is replacing Kadena Air Base's fleet of the older F-15C/D Eagle jets with the state-of-the-art F-15EX Eagle II jets, which are expected to arrive in 2026. During the air power transition period, Kadena Air Base maintains a rotational presence of fighter aircraft.

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