Tension in the Far East

[LongBlade]

Once a sleepy, sun-soaked backwater, this air base on the southern island of Okinawa has become the forefront of a dangerous test of wills between two of Asia's largest powers, Japan and China.

At least once every day, Japanese F-15 fighter jets roar down the runway, scrambling to intercept foreign aircraft, mostly from China. The Japanese pilots say they usually face lumbering reconnaissance planes that cruise along the edge of Japanese-claimed airspace before turning home. But sometimes — exactly how often is classified — they face nimbler Chinese fighter jets in knuckle-whitening tests of piloting skills, and self-control.

"Intercepting fighters is always more nerve-racking," said Lt. Col. Hiroyuki Uemura, squadron commander of the approximately 20 F-15 fighters stationed here at Naha Air Base. "We hold our ground, but we don't provoke."


The high-velocity encounters over the East China Sea have made the skies above these strategic waters some of the tensest in the region, unnerving Pentagon planners concerned that a slip-up could cause a war with the potential to drag in the United States. Japan's refusal to back down over months of consistent challenges also represents a rare display of military spine by this long-dovish nation, and one that underscores just how far the rise of China and its forceful campaign to control nearby seas has pushed Japan out of its pacifist shell.

source: http://www.nytimes.com/2015/03/09/world/in-a-test-of-wills-japanese-fighter-pilots-confront-chinese.html

[mirth]

Japan, our first line of defense in the coming war with China.

[Gusington]

Japanese Prime Minister Abe has been working on getting Japan back to it's normal self fo some time. It's not 1995 anymore. And as long as they lay off the fascism I think everything will be alright.

[GDS_Starfury]

seems the JAF is very busy.

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2015-03-05/chasing-chinese-planes-400-times-a-year-stretches-japan-top-guns

[Centurion40]

Once a sleepy, sun-soaked backwater, this air base on the southern island of Okinawa has become the forefront of a dangerous test of wills between two of Asia's largest powers, Japan and China.

At least once every day, Japanese F-15 fighter jets roar down the runway, scrambling to intercept foreign aircraft, mostly from China. The Japanese pilots say they usually face lumbering reconnaissance planes that cruise along the edge of Japanese-claimed airspace before turning home. But sometimes — exactly how often is classified — they face nimbler Chinese fighter jets in knuckle-whitening tests of piloting skills, and self-control.

"Intercepting fighters is always more nerve-racking," said Lt. Col. Hiroyuki Uemura, squadron commander of the approximately 20 F-15 fighters stationed here at Naha Air Base. "We hold our ground, but we don't provoke."


The high-velocity encounters over the East China Sea have made the skies above these strategic waters some of the tensest in the region, unnerving Pentagon planners concerned that a slip-up could cause a war with the potential to drag in the United States. Japan's refusal to back down over months of consistent challenges also represents a rare display of military spine by this long-dovish nation, and one that underscores just how far the rise of China and its forceful campaign to control nearby seas has pushed Japan out of its pacifist shell.

source: http://www.nytimes.com/2015/03/09/world/in-a-test-of-wills-japanese-fighter-pilots-confront-chinese.html

Didn't y'all have USN and/or USAF bases on Okinawa at some point in the recent past? Or are they still there?

[GDS_Starfury]

Yes but we dont police Japanese air space.

[Airborne Rifles]

Interesting symmetry between Russian aerial incursions in Europe and Chinese ones in Asia. Aren't both running about 400 intercepts a year? Wonder if they've discussed mutual strategy.

[Centurion40]

Yes but we dont police Japanese air space.

You'd think that it would be a bit of a deterrent to the ChiComs, no?

Apparently not.

[mirth]

seems the JAF is very busy.

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2015-03-05/chasing-chinese-planes-400-times-a-year-stretches-japan-top-guns

"It's practically every day," Suzuki, dressed in a uniform of white shirt and dark blue trousers, said in his office. "It's absolutely extraordinary to ask one squadron to deal with more than 400 scrambles a year. It's an extremely heavy burden."

It's not just a lack of numbers that hampers Naha's 83rd Air Wing. The base shares a single runway with the adjacent civilian airport. While scrambles take priority over passenger flights, fighter jets embarking on daily training sessions must wait in line behind planes taking visitors back to Shanghai and Beijing, as well as Taiwan and the Japanese mainland.

The Japaneses really do need to ramp up investment in their military. 400 scrambles by a single squadron from a base with a single strip shared with a civvie airport? Ouch.

[BanzaiCat]

Obviously, there are some in China that don't remember what happened the last time they got into a war with Japan.

Not that there would be a 'Rape of Nanking II' in the cards or anything, but a 'Rape of Chinese air and naval power' would undoubtedly be a close second.

[GDS_Starfury]

For what its worth Japan has a larger military then any NATO country and I think the largest navy besides the US globally.

[mirth]

Obviously, there are some in China that don't remember what happened the last time they got into a war with Japan.

Not that there would be a 'Rape of Nanking II' in the cards or anything, but a 'Rape of Chinese air and naval power' would undoubtedly be a close second.

The Great East China Sea Turkey Shoot?

[Staggerwing]

IIRC Jomni recently modeled the Naha airport in Xplane and has screenshots in one of the threads here.

[mirth]

For what its worth Japan has a larger military then any NATO country and I think the largest navy besides the US globally.

I think you're right about the JMSDF. Know you're right about their military compared to NATO members.

I think a lot our allies are rethinking their defense budgets. Or should be anyway.

What are the odds on open conflict between the Chinese and someone by 2025? If the ChiComms are faced with serious internal unrest, I think they will look to an external conflict in an attempt to rally domestic support.

[mirth]

Worth a read:

http://nationalinterest.org/feature/great-war-the-east-china-sea-why-china-japan-could-fight-10877