September 17, 2016

"Japanese Minister of Defense Tomomi Inada revealed on September 15 during a visit to the US that Japanese Self-Defense Forces will patrol the South China Sea with the US navy, saying Japan will increase presence in the region through participation in military drills and aid to relevant countries.

The US has been actively inviting Japan, Australia and the Philippines to join its South China Sea patrols, but Australia and the Philippines have so far adopted a prudent approach. Sun Jianguo, deputy chief of the Joint Staff Department of China's Central Military Commission, said in June that China will not turn a blind eye to possible "joint patrol" of South China Sea by Japan and the US. Inada's latest remarks challenges China's bottom line.

The moment Tokyo decides to send warships to the South China Sea, the efforts by both China and Japan to improve bilateral relations will become futile. The situation in the South China Sea, which just began to cool down, will be disturbed due to the waves splashed by the joint patrol by the two outside countries. China has no other choice but to take countermeasures."

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