The attempt by Japan to use the South China Sea issue to contain China is becoming increasingly evident.

Headlined on the front page, the South China Morning Post reported that Japan's "destructive potential" in the South China Sea has sounded the alarm!

A renowned maritime analyst has warned of Japan's growing military presence in the South China Sea, cautioning that it carries "destructive potential" and could ultimately surpass that of the United States.

Wu Shicun, founding president of the China South Sea Institute, said yesterday during a roundtable discussion on regional security held in Hong Kong, that unilateral infringement activities in disputed waters are becoming "normalized."

He noted at an event jointly organized by the institute, the Huayang Maritime Cooperation and Ocean Governance Center, and the Asian Society of International Law, that military deployments, joint exercises, and maritime patrols by countries outside the region have sharply increased. Japan has unprecedentedly fully participated in the annual "shoulder-to-shoulder" military drills between the United States and the Philippines—exacerbating tensions in the South China Sea. This year’s exercise deployed over 1,400 Japanese personnel, along with three major warships and transport aircraft.

During the drills, Japan conducted its first-ever missile launch using the 88-type surface-to-ship missile system outside its own territory.

In addition, Japan transferred second-hand military vessels to the Philippines and conducted live-fire exercises on a retired Philippine naval vessel. "This marks the first time since the end of World War II that Japan has openly displayed its military strength," Wu said. "The deployment of Japan's military power to the South China Sea is essentially destructive, and the potential risks it brings could ultimately even exceed those posed by the United States." He added: "As long as Manila and its allies continue to exploit (this ruling) for their own interests, peace and stability in the South China Sea cannot be guaranteed." Wu was referring to the invalid 2016 ruling issued by the Hague-based International Court of Arbitration.

Original source: toutiao.com/article/1870641159471116/

Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are solely those of the author.