The Liberty Magazine interviewed a former Japanese Self-Defense Force official about the South China Sea crisis and the “Free and Open Indo-Pacific”
Kunio Orita: Having graduated from the National Defense Academy of Japan in 1974, Orita served as Commander of the 6th Air Wing, Commander of the Air Support Command, and served in the Japanese Iraq Reconstruction and Support Group as commanding officer. He is currently visiting professor at Toyo Gakuen University and Chief Director of the Institute for National Strategic Studies in Japan.
China’s national strategy is to annex Taiwan between 2020 and 2025, fully control the South China Sea and oceans surrounding India between 2025 and 2040, and to invade the Senkaku and Okinawa islands between 2040 and 2045.
When President Obama declared that the U.S. was no longer the World Police back in 2013, it really encouraged China. Half a year later China had already started constructions on the Spratly Islands in the South China Sea and have now gained control over the Paracel Islands.
If they invade Scarborough Shoal, which lies near the Philippines, they would completely secure their air and maritime supremacy in the area. They can create a sanctuary free of U.S. fleets, submarines and patrol planes.
Back during the Cold War, the Soviet Union gained control of the Sea of Okhotsk, at the Northeast side of Hokkaido, and the U.S. navy was not able to come close, even by a millimeter.
China is now trying to push the U.S. navy outside of the South China Sea by approaching abnormally close with their naval ships.
Once China controls Scarborough Shoal, it will be “game over” for the U.S. and Japan. We will have no choice but to submit to China.