Newly released photos show the United States and its NATO and Indo-Pacific allies staging a show of force in the Western Pacific with advanced F-35 stealth aircraft and their carriers.

As part of the drill, U.S. and British F-35B fighter jets conducted flight operations from the Japanese aircraft carrier JS Kaga , which has yet to be equipped with F-35B jets of its own.

China 's Foreign Ministry did not immediately respond to a written request for comment.

Why It Matters

The allied F-35 carrier war game comes after China—which operates the largest navy in the world by hull count— deployed two aircraft carriers in June on the eastern side of a U.S. defensive island chain formed by Japan , Taiwan, and the Philippines in the Western Pacific.

China's increasing coast guard

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