Japan Beefing Up Its Island Defenses To Counter China's Growing Naval Power

Military personnel stand on deck of the Izumo helicopter carrier of the Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF) during its fleet review at Sagami Bay, off Yokosuka, south of Tokyo in this October 15, 2015 file photo. REUTERS/Thomas Peter/Files

Reuters: Exclusive: Japan's far-flung island defense plan seeks to turn tables on China

Japan is fortifying its far-flung island chain in the East China Sea under an evolving strategy that aims to turn the tables on China's navy and keep it from ever dominating the Western Pacific Ocean, Japanese military and government sources said.

The United States, believing its Asian allies - and Japan in particular - must help contain growing Chinese military power, has pushed Japan to abandon its decades-old bare-bones home island defense in favor of exerting its military power in Asia.

Tokyo is responding by stringing a line of anti-ship, anti-aircraft missile batteries along 200 islands in the East China Sea stretching 1,400 km (870 miles) from the country's mainland toward Taiwan.

WNU Editor: The Japanese are seeing what the Chinese have done in the South China Sea .... they are clearly not interested in having the same result happen to them in their maritime dispute with China

Update: Zero Hedge's analysis is probably correct .... Japan Prepares Missile Blockade In East China Sea To Halt Chinese "Maritime Aggression" (Zero Hedge).