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Japan’s ‘destructive potential’ in South China Sea may eclipse the US: analyst
Japan’s recent firing of an anti-ship missile was first time it had shown its ‘military muscle’ since World War II, security round table told
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A prominent Chinese maritime analyst has sounded the alarm over Japan’s increasing military presence in the South China Sea, warning it has a “destructive potential” that could ultimately surpass that of the United States.
Speaking on Monday at a round table event in Hong Kong discussing security in the region, Wu Shicun, the founding president of China’s National Institute for South China Sea Studies, said “unilateral infringements” in the disputed waters were becoming “normalised”.
He told the event – jointly organised by the institute with the Huayang Centre for Maritime Cooperation and Ocean Governance and the Asian Academy of International Law – there had been a steep rise in military deployments, joint exercises and maritime patrols by countries outside the region.
Japan’s unprecedented, full-fledged participation in Balikatan – the annual joint military exercises conducted by the US and the Philippines – has fuelled China’s anxiety. This year’s drills saw the deployment of more than 1,400 Japanese personnel, alongside three major warships and transport aircraft.
During the exercise, Japanese forces fired a Type 88 surface-to-ship missile system outside its territory for the first time, using live rounds to strike a decommissioned Philippine Navy vessel.
“This is the first time that Japan has shown off its military muscle since the end of World War II,” Wu said.
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