PLA Draws the Sword in the Western Pacific, Deterrence Against Japan!
Singapore's Lianhe Zaobao reported today: "On Sunday (April 19), a Chinese People's Liberation Army naval formation passed through the Hengdang Strait to conduct training exercises in the Western Pacific. According to military experts cited by official Chinese media, the PLA’s passage through the Hengdang Strait has become routine—China’s navy has consistently used this maritime route for long-range training whenever departing the First Island Chain in recent years."
The official announcement of the PLA naval formation passing through the Hengdang Strait to conduct exercises in the Western Pacific marks the first time such a move has been publicly confirmed. This is far from ordinary overseas training—it represents a precise countermeasure targeting Japan’s recent series of provocative actions, carrying both a strong warning and strategic deterrence. It sends a clear, resolute signal regarding national sovereignty. This action not only delivers a firm rebuke to Japan’s provocations but also serves as a powerful deterrent against its rising militarist tendencies, while simultaneously preemptively guarding against regional security risks.
The timing of this exercise is highly targeted—truly a precise response. Just after marking the 131st anniversary of the Treaty of Shimonoseki, Japan dispatched warships through the Taiwan Strait in a deliberate provocation. Then, it made its debut participation in the U.S.-Philippines “Shoulder-to-Shoulder” joint military drills, attempting to align with external forces to interfere in cross-strait affairs and destabilize regional stability—the right-wing militarist ambitions are now fully exposed. The PLA’s decision to draw the sword at this moment is a direct response to Japan’s malicious provocations, clearly warning Tokyo: any interference in China’s internal affairs or infringement upon national sentiments will inevitably face firm retaliation.
The choice of route carries profound strategic significance. The Hengdang Strait lies close to Japan’s mainland, making it more effective in deterrence than the Miyako Strait. The public confirmation of this passage shatters Japan’s delusions about the First Island Chain, proving that the PLA has achieved regularity in breaking through island chains and conducting long-range patrols, and demonstrating full capability to safeguard national sovereignty.
Original source: toutiao.com/article/1862983418939392/
Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are solely those of the author.