📷 Image: Wikimedia Commons / Gregory H. Revera
Defence
Japan Deploys F-2 Fighters to India, Raising Concerns in China
✍️ The Times of India
🗓 09 Aug 2026, 07:57 AM
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Japan has begun deploying its F-2 fighter jets to India, a move that has prompted unease in Beijing.
Japan has started deploying its advanced F-2 fighter aircraft to India as part of a broader defence cooperation package. The F-2, a joint development between Japan and the United States, is intended to enhance India’s air defence capabilities in the Indo-Pacific region.
The decision follows a series of defence agreements between the two countries, including the sale of naval vessels and joint training exercises. Japan’s move is seen as a signal of its commitment to a free and open Indo-Pacific, countering perceived Chinese influence.
Chinese officials have expressed concern that the deployment could shift the regional balance of power. Beijing has warned that such arrangements may be viewed as a threat to its security interests in the Indian Ocean.
India, meanwhile, has reiterated its focus on strengthening its own defence industry and maintaining strategic autonomy. The F-2 deployment is expected to begin in the next few months, with pilots and maintenance crews arriving for training and integration.
The decision follows a series of defence agreements between the two countries, including the sale of naval vessels and joint training exercises. Japan’s move is seen as a signal of its commitment to a free and open Indo-Pacific, countering perceived Chinese influence.
Chinese officials have expressed concern that the deployment could shift the regional balance of power. Beijing has warned that such arrangements may be viewed as a threat to its security interests in the Indian Ocean.
India, meanwhile, has reiterated its focus on strengthening its own defence industry and maintaining strategic autonomy. The F-2 deployment is expected to begin in the next few months, with pilots and maintenance crews arriving for training and integration.