Tag
First Island Chain
![Why China's Military Wants to Control These 2 Waterways in East Asia Why China's Military Wants to Control These 2 Waterways in East Asia](https://thediplomat.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/sizes/thumbnail/thediplomat-screen-shot-2019-09-15-at-10.01.50-am.jpg)
Why China's Military Wants to Control These 2 Waterways in East Asia
By Franz-Stefan Gady
The Bashi Channel and Miyako Strait constitute critical chokepoints for Chinese military operations both along and beyond the so-called first island chain.
![China Holds Long-Range Air Combat Drill Near Taiwan China Holds Long-Range Air Combat Drill Near Taiwan](https://thediplomat.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/sizes/thumbnail/thediplomat-screen-shot-2018-12-19-at-4.02.31-pm.jpg)
China Holds Long-Range Air Combat Drill Near Taiwan
By Franz-Stefan Gady
Taiwan scrambled fighter jets to intercept Chinese bombers, fighter jets, and an electronic intelligence aircraft flying over the Bashi Strait.
![US INF Withdrawal, Archipelagic Defense, and Managing the China Challenge US INF Withdrawal, Archipelagic Defense, and Managing the China Challenge](https://thediplomat.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/sizes/thumbnail/thediplomat-inf_inspection_of_pershing_ii_missiles_in_1989_1.jpg)
US INF Withdrawal, Archipelagic Defense, and Managing the China Challenge
By Ankit Panda
Is the case in Asia for conventional U.S. cruise missiles strong enough to justify the INF withdrawal?
![The Linkages Between China's Global Military Ambitions and the Belt and Road Initiative The Linkages Between China's Global Military Ambitions and the Belt and Road Initiative](https://thediplomat.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/sizes/thumbnail/thediplomat-xian_h-6a_china_-_air_force_jp7552070.jpg)
The Linkages Between China's Global Military Ambitions and the Belt and Road Initiative
By Ankit Panda and Prashanth Parameswaran
A new U.S. Department of Defense report describes trends in Chinese military modernization.
![China Flies Su-35 Fighters Over Bashi Channel for First Time China Flies Su-35 Fighters Over Bashi Channel for First Time](https://thediplomat.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/sizes/thumbnail/thediplomat-32215109_2052367648355728_4706742792968208384_o.jpg)
China Flies Su-35 Fighters Over Bashi Channel for First Time
By Franz-Stefan Gady
Chinese Su-35 fighter jets and H-6K bombers circled Taiwan during a long-range patrol.
![Japanese Defense Ministry: 'Unusual' Chinese Military Air Activities Increase Near Japan's Airspace Japanese Defense Ministry: 'Unusual' Chinese Military Air Activities Increase Near Japan's Airspace](https://thediplomat.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/sizes/thumbnail/thediplomat_2015-04-19_20-09-57.jpg)
Japanese Defense Ministry: 'Unusual' Chinese Military Air Activities Increase Near Japan's Airspace
By Ankit Panda
Total Air Self-Defense Force scrambles dropped slightly from 2016, but Japan remains concerned.
![Chinese Defense Ministry to Japan: 'Get Used To' PLAAF Operations Through the Miyako Strait Chinese Defense Ministry to Japan: 'Get Used To' PLAAF Operations Through the Miyako Strait](https://thediplomat.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/sizes/thumbnail/thediplomat_2015-10-14_19-11-21.jpg)
Chinese Defense Ministry to Japan: 'Get Used To' PLAAF Operations Through the Miyako Strait
By Ankit Panda
China wants Japan to get used to seeing its military vessels and aircraft transit the Miyako Strait.
![Chinese Navy Type 815 Intelligence Ship Transits Tsugaru Strait in Northern Japan Chinese Navy Type 815 Intelligence Ship Transits Tsugaru Strait in Northern Japan](https://thediplomat.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/sizes/thumbnail/thediplomat.com-5188902609747968-1.jpg)
Chinese Navy Type 815 Intelligence Ship Transits Tsugaru Strait in Northern Japan
By Ankit Panda
A Chinese Navy spy ship transited waters separating the Japanese islands of Honshu and Hokkaido. Why does that matter?
![For Third Time Ever, China Shows Off Its DF-16 Medium-Range Ballistic Missile For Third Time Ever, China Shows Off Its DF-16 Medium-Range Ballistic Missile](https://thediplomat.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/sizes/thumbnail/thediplomat_2017-02-07_01-28-21.jpg)
For Third Time Ever, China Shows Off Its DF-16 Medium-Range Ballistic Missile
By Ankit Panda
The DF-16 was first seen publicly in a September 2015 military parade.
![East China Sea: Japan Reacts as Chinese Air Force Conducts Miyako Strait Drill East China Sea: Japan Reacts as Chinese Air Force Conducts Miyako Strait Drill](https://thediplomat.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/sizes/thumbnail/thediplomat_2016-09-25_22-31-16.jpg)
East China Sea: Japan Reacts as Chinese Air Force Conducts Miyako Strait Drill
By Ankit Panda
Several types of Chinese military aircraft transited the strategically important strait.
![China's Air Force Revisits the Bashi Channel. Here's Why That Matters China's Air Force Revisits the Bashi Channel. Here's Why That Matters](https://thediplomat.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/sizes/thumbnail/thediplomat_2016-09-13_01-55-53.jpg)
China's Air Force Revisits the Bashi Channel. Here's Why That Matters
By Ankit Panda
The Bashi Channel is seldom discussed, but bears great strategic relevance for the People's Liberation Army.
![How Chinese Analysts Understand Taiwan’s Geostrategic Significance How Chinese Analysts Understand Taiwan’s Geostrategic Significance](https://thediplomat.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/sizes/thumbnail/thediplomat_2014-05-15_14-45-34.jpg)
How Chinese Analysts Understand Taiwan’s Geostrategic Significance
By David Gitter
As the world fixates on the South China Sea, Chinese describe Taiwan as the regional key.
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