# Southwest Islands Evacuation

The Vanishing Carrier: Japan’s Naval Blind Spot and the Looming Battle for the Ryukyus

A 2026 incident in which Japan lost track of the Chinese carrier Liaoning for seven days has highlighted growing gaps in Pacific surveillance. As China deploys J-35 stealth fighters to its carrier fleet and Japan begins mass evacuations of its southwestern islands, the region is shifting from a policy of containment to one of active frontline defense.