China\'s Quest. The History of the Foreign Relations of the People\'s Republic of China - John Garver

Reassuring and Unnerving Japan } 731

major factor bringing about the collapse of the Japanese Empire. During the
Cold War, Japan once again faced danger from Soviet submarines that might
attempt to sever Japan’s sea communications with the rest of the world. In
response, the JMSDF became a substantial and effective partner of the US
navy in countering the Soviet submarine threat by keeping those boats bot-
tled up in the Seas of Okhotsk and Japan.^57 Many of the antisubmarine and
antimine capabilities developed by Japan to counter Soviet submarines dur-
ing the Cold War are broadly applicable to dealing with the threat of encircle-
ment and possible blockade by the PLA-N.
Japan responded to China’s growing assertiveness in the East China Sea
(and to the evaporation of the threat of a Russian invasion of Hokkaido) by

PHILIPPINES

CHINA

RUSSIA

NORTH

KOREA

SOUTH

KOREA

JAPAN

Sea of

Japan

East

China

Sea

Tokyo

Manila

Philippine

Sea

TAIWAN

Okinawa Is.

Oct. 2008: 1st identiedpassage by PLAN surface

combatants; proceed tocircle Japan.

Oct. 2012: 4 ships includingdestroyer pass by Yokakuni Is.

Dec. 2012: 4 ships includingSovremenny destroyer pass.

May 2013: 2 ships includingfrigate pass southward.

June 2009: 5 ships pasOkinotori Is. Multiples

PLAN helicopters close onJMSDF ships surveilling

PLAN ships producingJapanese protests.

Jan. 2013: PLAN frigatestwice lock re-control

radar on JMSDF destroyers;Japan protests stressing

danger of.

Senkakus:Dec. 2008: PRC maritime agency

ships enter “territorial waters” ofSept. 2012: Frequency of.

instrusions increases.Dec. 2012: Fixed wing Oceanic

Administration ies overislands for 1st time.

Apr. and June 2013: 6 PLANships including frigates and

destroyers transit OsumiStrait; 1st such passage since

2000; conduct UAV and heli-copter ights and mid-ocean

refueling in vicinity ofOkinotori Is.

Apr. 2010: 10 shipincluding Sovremennys

destroyer and Kilo supass Okinotori Is. b

2008: 4 ship2009: 5 shipss

2010: 8 ship2011: 7 shipss

2012: 20 ship2013: 10 shipss

April-June 2012: Standobetween Chinese state ships

and Philippine naval ships.

FIGURE 26-6 Mounting Chinese Naval Activity in Seas around Japan
Source: Defense of Japan 2013 (Minstry of Defense: Tokyo), (w w w.mod.go.jp/e/publ/w_ paper/pdf/2013).