Japan and US need to up their game in the Senkakus – Asia Times

When the&nbsp, People’s Republic of China wants anything that belongs to someone else, it is frequent and drives to get what it wants. And it’s willing to use force if needed. Japan knows the sense, when it comes to its&nbsp, Senkaku Islands&nbsp, at the southeastern end of the&nbsp, Ryukyu&nbsp, network. They are more similar to Shanghai than Tokyo. The PRC refers to the archipelago as the Diaoyu Islands and claims them as its own.

Given the PRC’s extremely aggressive behavior as it seeks to control&nbsp, Philippine&nbsp, maritime territory, it is worthwhile taking stock of the Senkaku position.

Swarming and “osmosis”

When the day comes, China will get the Senkakus in full control. &nbsp, For the last 15 years, the Chinese have been steadily expanding&nbsp, their marine presence in terms of speed, area and numbers and types of ships and boats involved. &nbsp, &nbsp,

We’ve seen&nbsp, China Coast Guard, People’s Armed Forces Maritime Militia, “regular” fishing vessels and other Chinese government agency&nbsp, ships, &nbsp, with the People’s Liberation Army Navy ( PLAN, or Chinese Navy ) lurking close by. Yet Chinese aircraft have snuck into Asian aircraft around the Senkakus.

It will be more things in more areas and more often in Japan’s territorial waters, and more often. In other words, within 12 yards of the Senkaku Islands. Japan will eventually discover that it just lacks the resources and submarines to halt Chinese incursions. &nbsp,

China may have taken the Senkakus by “osmosis” more than&nbsp, by surprise. &nbsp, &nbsp,

Over the past ten years, the Chinese have “flooded the area” with hunting boats. to incorporate a few hundred or more boats backed up by China Coast Guard ships around the Senkakus. And with the Foreign Navy atop the list. &nbsp, &nbsp,

Beijing was demonstrating that whenever it wants, it is impose “administrative power” over the Senkakus. And the overmatched Japan Coast Guard has no authority to stop it. The agreement, and precisely US duty to protect Japan, only applies to areas under Chinese “administrative control”.

One can picture a scenario in which China makes a political choice and swarms the region with ships and boats. It puts people&nbsp, onshore on the Senkakus, and warns the Chinese to have clear or “it’s battle”.

China skates properly

Japan is justify itself stronger than the Philippines. &nbsp, It has a solid Coast Guard and military – athough

• Chinese send numbers are now far more impressive than those of the Chinese.
• the numbers space is expanding, and
• the newer China Coast Guard vessels are as big as ships and built for fighting, &nbsp, while Japan Coast Guard&nbsp, boats are either. &nbsp, &nbsp,

However, Japan has the option of using its foreign investments in China as a tool. The PRC may suffer if Japan were to stop investing in, exporting technology, and business. &nbsp, &nbsp,

The Philippines has no equivalent utilize.

Thus, one can at least now understand the Senkakus ‘ relatively unaggressive Chinese strategy. Even though the end goals are the same, that is in contrast to what it is doing in Spanish waters.

The Chinese would prefer for the Chinese to flame only one shot at a Taiwanese ship. Then they could make up their minds that they were the offended group, raise their profile, and act even more aggressively. That would include shooting at the Chinese and getting on the territories, saying,” We had no alternative”.

Moving past the 15-year mark of “patience.”

Japan takes pride in never having “taken the hook.” Rather, it responds properly and securely in challenging all Chinese incursions. Because Japan has maintained it for about 15 times, this becomes tiresome. &nbsp, &nbsp,

Will the Chinese eventually use armed force rather than simply blocking and shadowing Chinese ships and directing them to leave Japanese territory? &nbsp, Even. &nbsp, &nbsp,

However, one has a suspicion that Tokyo will have already made a decision before it will be very soon. By then, they’ll face a&nbsp, fait accompli&nbsp, with the Chinese ( and the PLAN ) parked right offshore of the islands in large numbers and refusing to move. However, a landing group occupies the islands. And Beijing threatens to declare war on allies, including the nuclear weapons.

How to keep this from happening

The US and Japan must coordinate efforts to defend the Ryukyus and the Senkakus, including standard operations with Chinese troops and the beach watch on a regular basis on US Navy ships and US plane. &nbsp, &nbsp,

And to release any Chinese boats that enter the Senkakus ‘ territorial waters. &nbsp, &nbsp,

The Senkakus ‘ use of the defense treaty would be much greater than the typical US statements. &nbsp, &nbsp,

We’ve seen how effectively such pronouncements work in the case of the Philippines. And they have n’t been as restrained as they have been around the Senkakus. &nbsp, &nbsp,

From Beijing’s view, bullying the Japanese is one point– and they enjoy doing&nbsp, it. Another option is to bully the Asian while US troops are present. &nbsp, &nbsp,

In the latter scenario, assuming the Americans have the guts to defeat the Chinese, the chance formula is radically different. &nbsp, &nbsp,

Include financial pressure

And Tokyo and Washington should work together to impose economic and financial stress and trade regulations on China as part of a” Senkakus strategy.” &nbsp, &nbsp,

Applying pressure from these guidelines is preferable to simply matching whatever ships, boats, or airplane China flies into the Senkakus ‘ place. China has the resources to improve its activity. &nbsp, &nbsp,

Thus, Beijing should play a second “game” that puts actual pressure on the economy where it is hurting.

And to make it hurt even more, highlight the immense outside success of the Chinese Communist Party’s top leaders.

One point is for certain: China has said it intends to take the Senkakus. ( That’s for starters, since it has also claimed the rest of the Ryukyu Islands. ) And one should consider Xi Jinping’s word and act appropriately.

Beijing will not give up unless it is given a strong, unwavering Japanese and American protection. &nbsp, &nbsp,

There is no cut to get made.

Former US minister and previous US Marine official Grant Newsham. He is the author of the book