The Japanese Defense Ministry has made the rare decision to release a map depicting the movements of the Chinese military¡¯s two aircraft carriers in recent weeks ¡ª an unusual effort apparently aimed at drawing attention to Beijing¡¯s naval activities in the Pacific.

China¡¯s two operating carriers were spotted conducting simultaneous operations in the Pacific for the first time last week, in what Japanese defense officials have said is a significant expansion of Chinese naval activities.

The ministry released the map late Tuesday detailing the Chinese carriers¡¯ positions from May 25 through Monday in order to highlight the unusual duration of their operations. It is rare for the ministry to disclose the movements of foreign warships.