On July 3rd, the US Department of Defense announced the deployment of 48 F-35A fighter jets to Japan, replacing the existing F-15C/D fighter jets with F-15EX fighter jets. These aircraft will be stationed at three bases in Japan alongside the Marine Corps’ F-35B fighter jets. The additional F-35A jets will be deployed at the Misawa Air Base in Japan, which is closer to Beijing than Taipei. President Trump’s revealed plan to bomb Beijing seems to be progressing ahead of schedule, putting the Chinese Communist Party in a dilemma.
In recent years, the US military’s fifth-generation fighter jets have frequently been dynamically deployed to various bases in the Western Pacific, including Japan, South Korea, Guam, Tinian, Palau, and the Philippines. These aircraft quietly land at different locations and then depart or change deployment locations stealthily, making it difficult for the Chinese Communist Party to predict their movements. This move by the US military not only demonstrates agility in responding to unexpected situations but also confuses the Chinese Communist Party with the deceptive dispersion of deployments, reducing the risk of missile attacks from China.
The aircraft announced by the Pentagon will be permanently deployed in Japan. The 36 F-16 fighter jets previously deployed at the Misawa Air Base in Japan will be replaced by 48 F-35A stealth fighters. The 48 F-15C/D fighter jets originally stationed at the Kadena Air Base in Okinawa, Japan, will be replaced by 36 F-15EX aircraft.
The US Marine Corps already has 20 F-35B fighter jets deployed at the Iwakuni Base in Japan, and they will continue with sustained deployment and rotation, possibly modifying deployment numbers, although the US military has not disclosed specifics.
The cost of this upgrade plan exceeds $10 billion and will be implemented in the coming years, aiming to strengthen the US-Japan alliance and enhance regional deterrence capabilities.
With 48 F-35A replacing the 36 F-16 jets at the Misawa Base in Japan, upgrading to fifth-generation aircraft and increasing the quantity, the Misawa Base is about 2500 kilometers from Taipei and around 2100 kilometers from Beijing. This kind of deployment inevitably brings to mind Trump’s statements regarding bombing Beijing.
In the event of a conflict in the Taiwan Strait, these 48 F-35A jets can choose to support Taiwan from the south or relocate to the Kadena Base in Okinawa first. Furthermore, the F-22 and F-35 aircraft rushing from Alaska for reinforcement could fill the void at the Misawa Base, implementing a strategy of dispersed deployment.
The F-22 and F-35 aircraft rushing from Alaska for reinforcement could also be stationed directly at the Kadena Base, providing close support to Taiwan. The 48 F-35A jets at the Misawa Base always have another option for a strike, which is to raid Beijing.
The combat radius of the F-35A fighter relying solely on internal fuel tanks is 1,239 kilometers; with auxiliary fuel tanks, the operational range could exceed 2,200 kilometers. With aerial refueling near South Korea or landing for refueling in South Korea, it is about 1000 kilometers from Beijing, making the journey relatively feasible. If the US military plans to attack Beijing, the F-35A jets could also be directly deployed to South Korea from Alaska.
The US military’s latest announcement of the F-35A deployment plan presents various possibilities, making the threat to Beijing more realistic, putting pressure on the Chinese Communist Party.
The Chinese Communist Party has been concerned about the possibility of a US military bombardment of Beijing. After the J-20 became operational, the first squadron was deployed in Wuhu, Anhui, and the second in Anshan, Liaoning, indicating the Chinese Communist Party’s concerns about a sudden US military assault on Beijing. Following mass production of the J-20, the Eastern Theater Command received the most allocation, but squadrons were also deployed in Qufu, Shandong, and Chifeng, Inner Mongolia, aiming to safeguard Beijing.
The F-35A of the Japanese Self-Defense Force is also deployed at the Misawa Base, with at least 38 jets already received and a total of 147 on order; South Korea has received 40 F-35A jets. Once these fifth-generation fighters are integrated, the advantage over the Chinese Communist Party’s North Theater Command becomes notably evident.
The US Air Force has at least 363 F-35A aircraft; the US Marine Corps has at least 145 F-35B/C aircraft; the US Navy has at least 45 F-35C aircraft, totaling at least 553; combined with 178 F-22 aircraft, the total number of fifth-generation aircraft exceeds 731. These aircraft are partially forward-deployed and dynamically deployed, sufficient to form an advantage over the Chinese Communist Party.
The North Theater Command of the Chinese Communist Party has deployed about 30 J-20 aircraft, split between Liaoning and Shandong peninsulas. With the newly announced F-35A deployment of 48 jets at Misawa Base in Japan and the potential maintenance of 20 F-35B at the Iwakuni Base, the Chinese Communist Party’s J-20 fighters would be at a distinct numerical disadvantage even if capable of facing the F-35. The continuous arrival of fifth-generation aircraft from the US military stationed in Alaska will provide further reinforcements.
The political significance of a US military airstrike on Beijing would be immense, regardless of whether a decapitation strike is successful, it would effectively disrupt the Chinese Communist Party’s bureaucratic system and command structure. If B-2 bombers drop a string of bombs on the Zhongnanhai, causing chaos among officials, the collapse of the Chinese Communist regime overnight is not implausible.
The US military’s airstrike on Beijing would have a much greater political impact, effectively disrupting the Chinese Communist Party’s bureaucratic system and command structure. If B-2 bombers drop a string of bombs on the Zhongnanhai, causing chaos among officials, the collapse of the Chinese Communist regime overnight is not implausible.
The US military’s airstrike on Beijing would have a much greater political impact, effectively disrupting the Chinese Communist Party’s bureaucratic system and command structure. If B-2 bombers drop a string of bombs on the Zhongnanhai, causing chaos among officials, the collapse of the Chinese Communist regime overnight is not implausible.
The US military’s airstrike on Beijing would have a much greater political impact, effectively disrupting the Chinese Communist Party’s bureaucratic system and command structure. If B-2 bombers drop a string of bombs on the Zhongnanhai, causing chaos among officials, the collapse of the Chinese Communist regime overnight is not implausible.
The US military’s airstrike on Beijing would have a much greater political impact, effectively disrupting the Chinese Communist Party’s bureaucratic system and command structure. If B-2 bombers drop a string of bombs on the Zhongnanhai, causing chaos among officials, the collapse of the Chinese Communist regime overnight is not implausible.
The US military’s airstrike on Beijing would have a much greater political impact, effectively disrupting the Chinese Communist Party’s bureaucratic system and command structure. If B-2 bombers drop a string of bombs on the Zhongnanhai, causing chaos among officials, the collapse of the Chinese Communist regime overnight is not implausible.
The US military’s airstrike on Beijing would have a much greater political impact, effectively disrupting the Chinese Communist Party’s bureaucratic system and command structure. If B-2 bombers drop a string of bombs on the Zhongnanhai, causing chaos among officials, the collapse of the Chinese Communist regime overnight is not implausible.
The US military’s airstrike on Beijing would have a much greater political impact, effectively disrupting the Chinese Communist Party’s bureaucratic system and command structure. If B-2 bombers drop a string of bombs on the Zhongnanhai, causing chaos among officials, the collapse of the Chinese Communist regime overnight is not implausible.
The US military’s airstrike on Beijing would have a much greater political impact, effectively disrupting the Chinese Communist Party’s bureaucratic system and command structure. If B-2 bombers drop a string of bombs on the Zhongnanhai, causing chaos among officials, the collapse of the Chinese Communist regime overnight is not implausible.
The US military’s airstrike on Beijing would have a much greater political impact, effectively disrupting the Chinese Communist Party’s bureaucratic system and command structure. If B-2 bombers drop a string of bombs on the Zhongnanhai, causing chaos among officials, the collapse of the Chinese Communist regime overnight is not implausible.
The US military’s airstrike on Beijing would have a much greater political impact, effectively disrupting the Chinese Communist Party’s bureaucratic system and command structure.
As the F-35 fighters continue to be delivered, the upgrading of the US military’s deployed aircraft in the Western Pacific is inevitable, once again widening the gap in superiority over the Chinese Communist Party.
The USS Washington carrier is set to permanently replace the USS Ronald Reagan in Japan, and the F-35C squadron aboard the carrier is expected to be stationed at the Iwakuni base in Japan. The US Marine Corps’ F-35B fighters are also increasing in numbers. The J-20 fighters of the Chinese Communist Party are advised not to be the first to fire.
Epoch Times Initial报道