Operation Slingshot: US Demonstrates Power Against China

From June 18 to July 2, 2026, US Marines conducted Operation Slingshot, connecting Australia to Hawaii with F-35B fighters and KC-130J tankers, to test rapid deployment capabilities from austere bases. The operation included advanced logistical support via the KC-130J, which traveled through Cairns, Pohnpei, Kwajalein, and Wake Island. This comes amid increasing military activity in the Pacific, with China deploying its aircraft carriers Liaoning and Shandong beyond the first island chain more frequently in 2025, indicating a strategic expansion of its naval presence.