China's Island Chain Advantage: A Wake Up Call for US Military Strategists The Pentagon's latest report on Chinese military power has set off alarm bells in Washington, but its implications extend far beyond the Beltway.
The rapid progress of China's People's Liberation Army (PLA) in key areas is a stark reminder of America's own strategic shortcomings in the Asia Pacific region.
The first island chain, a Cold War era concept that has taken on new relevance, stretches from Japan to the Philippines and is now a principal battleground between China and the United States.