PLA Marine Corps Launch Exercises in Response to Island Disputes

Following the United States Marine Corps and Japan Ground Self Defense Force amphibious landing exercise on Guam simulating an operation to secure the disputed Diaoyu, or Senkaku, Islands from the People's Liberation Army last month, a similar exercise was held recently by the Chinese Marine Corps in a demonstration of its fighting capability, reports our sister newspaper Want Daily.

The exercise carried out by the People's Liberation Army Marine Corps simulates an operation to take unnamed islands from unnamed enemies. PLA fighting capabilities such as long range strike, infiltration, assault on fortified positions, occupation and control of islands were demonstrated during the exercise. Simultaneous drills were held in both the disputed East and South China Seas. Although exact locations of drills remains unknown, the exercise was clearly held to send a signal to neighbors including Japan and Vietnam which both have territorial disputes with China. It is also being viewed a response to the recent deployment of two US aircraft carrier strike groups to the Western Pacific.

A commentary penned by Alejandro Del Rosario appearing in the Philippine's Manila Standard Today titled "Losing friends, making enemies" stated China’s aggressive claim over the entire South China Sea was the main reason for the United States taking action with the sending of two carrier groups to the region. By infuriating its neighbors, the piece suggested that China is at once losing friends while making enemies.

"There is no formal declaration of alliances among Russia, Japan, Vietnam and the Philippines, said Rosario. "These countries have no intention of surrounding China but they have circled their wagons to ward off further Chinese aggression." While indicating the damage caused by the anti-Japanese rallies in China triggered by Japan' move on September 11th to nationalize three of the disputed Senkaku islands, Rosario pointed out that Japan still clearly controls the Senkaku islands and demonstrated as such by forcing Chinese vessels to retreated from the disputed waters.