In a display of Beijing’s growing military reach, the Chinese Navy sent two aircraft carriers into the Pacific Ocean, far from the country’s coast, for the first time to conduct exercises together, Japan’s defense minister, Gen Nakatani, said.

日本防卫大臣中谷元称，中国海军派出两艘航空母舰进入远离本土海岸的太平洋，首次举行联合演习。此举展现了北京日益增长的军事影响力。

Mr. Nakatani told reporters on Monday that the Chinese aircraft carriers were spotted launching and retrieving jet fighters out in the Pacific to the east of the Japanese island of Iwo Jima, about 750 miles south of Tokyo. He said the Japanese Navy was monitoring the joint exercise by both vessels, which began on Saturday.

周一，中谷元对记者表示，，在东京以南约1200公里的日本硫磺岛以东太平洋海域发现中国航空母舰正在进行战机的起降训练。他说，日本海军对两艘航母上周六开始的联合演习实施全程监控。

It was the first time that China’s two active-duty aircraft carriers, the Liaoning and the Shandong, and their escort ships had operated together in the Pacific beyond the islands of Japan, which form a natural barrier that Beijing calls the First Island Chain.

这是中国两艘现役航母——辽宁舰和山东舰及其护卫舰第一次在日本群岛以外的太平洋上协同行动。日本群岛构成了一道天然屏障，北京称之为第一岛链。

To escape the confines of that chain, China has been strengthening its navy by adding aircraft carriers, which can project force far greater distances. In addition to the Liaoning and the Shandong, China has built a third aircraft carrier, the Fujian, which is undergoing sea trials before entering active duty. A fourth aircraft carrier is under construction.

为了突破岛链封锁，中国一直在通过增加航母来加强海军的战斗力，这些航母可以将力量投射到更远的距离。除了辽宁舰和山东舰，中国还建造了第三艘航母福建舰，目前正在进行服役之前的海试。第四艘航母也在建造中。

By cruising beyond Japan, the Chinese warships are demonstrating that they could challenge not only Japan but also its biggest ally, the United States, for control of the western Pacific during a crisis. If the United States deployed ships from Hawaii, the West Coast or even Guam, they would have to pass near those waters to reach Japan or Taiwan. China claims Taiwan, a self-governing island, as its own territory, but the United States has pledged to help defend it.

通过此次在日本海域外的巡航，中国军舰表明，它们在危机时期不仅可以挑战日本，还可以挑战其最大盟友美国，争夺西太平洋的控制权。如果美国从夏威夷、西海岸甚至关岛部署军舰，它们必须途径这些水域才能抵达日本或台湾。中国声称自治岛屿台湾是自己的领土，但美国承诺协防台湾。

So far, the Chinese ships are smaller and carry fewer planes than America’s 11 large nuclear-powered aircraft carriers. The Chinese buildup has also prompted Japan to build its first small aircraft carriers since World War II, which will be capable of carrying U.S.-made F-35B stealth fighters.

到目前为止，中国航母在吨位和舰载机数量上与美国的11艘大型核动力航母还存在差距。中国的军力增长也促使日本建造了自“二战”以来的第一批小型航母，它们能够搭载美制F-35B隐形战斗机。