This was a response to the development of the Cold War in Asia. In 1951 US military planners developed the “first island chain” security theory in an effort to preserve US control of the Pacific-right up to the Chinese coastline. And it is now expanding its military footprint in the area further as part of preparations for war against China. Since then the US has sought to maintain control over the entire Pacific Ocean through a string of bases. It was US military power that won the war, eclipsing the old imperial powers of Britain, France and the Netherlands, who began retreating from their Asian colonies. The US became the preeminent power in the Pacific after the defeat of Japan in 1945. The US and Australian governments constantly present China as a military threat, pointing to its claims over Taiwan and its actions in the South China Sea.īut the US has a far more intimidating military arsenal and has not been afraid to use it-from its invasion of Afghanistan and Iraq, pouring of weapons into Ukraine and constant bombing of countries from Syria to Yemen, Somalia and Libya.Ĭhina is effectively encircled by US bases all across the Pacific-threatening a catastrophic war between the world’s two greatest powers.

The US is the biggest bully in the Pacific, with rings of military bases blocking and threatening China, writes Tom Orsag

Sea Wars Online instal