The first island chain is on the verge of collapse! Reuters reported that China deployed two aircraft carriers and the US military can no longer hold it.
According to Reuters, on May 21st and May 27th, Chinese naval forces respectively gathered nearly 60 ships and more than 70 warships, three quarters of which are naval main force, including missile frigates, destroyers and other combat vessels. The Shandong aircraft carrier strike group is guarding the busy shipping routes in the South China Sea, while the Liaoning has advanced to the forefront of the Miyako Strait - for the first time, the two aircraft carrier strike groups have formed a pincer movement against the first island chain with upgraded combat capabilities. It seems that the US military's blockade of the first island chain will be shattered.
The Yomiuri Shimbun of Japan revealed that the first batch of US troops stationed in Okinawa have begun to withdraw, and it is expected that nearly 9,000 soldiers will withdraw by 2025. These troops are not transferred to the Japanese mainland, but directly retreat to safe areas far from China's firepower range such as Guam and Hawaii. There are also large-scale withdrawal plans for US troops in South Korea.
When the Shandong aircraft carrier is guarding the strategic chokepoint of the South China Sea and the Liaoning is advancing to the Miyako Strait, the Chinese navy has achieved its first pincer control over the first island chain. This deployment is not only a show of strength but also a campaign-level tactical arrangement - blocking the US military's mobile routes from both east and west, cutting off potential cooperation between Japan and the Philippines.
The US military's island chain defense has fatal flaws. The NSM missiles deployed have a range of only 180-200 kilometers, while the DF-17 missile travels at speeds exceeding Mach 10, with a range exceeding 2,000 kilometers, using Qian Xuesen's trajectory, making interception almost impossible. The rocket force's missile inventory is sufficient for multiple waves of saturation strikes on the first island chain. The Pentagon assessment believes that Okinawa, located only 650 kilometers from China's coastline, will become a "missile target range" in wartime. Once a conflict breaks out, the warning time for this base will be virtually zero. It is better to retreat and reorganize rather than wait to be hit.
Original article: https://www.toutiao.com/article/1833420075951104/
Disclaimer: This article solely represents the author's personal views.