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China has now become the world’s largest producer.
Exceeding America, and growing (rapidly).
Yet we buy, and we buy, and we buy.
Japan is more than aware of this, but so is Taiwan, who likely feel that the Chinese pulled out and “dusted off” a Taiwan invasion scenario to work on Japan.
This is a problem with “message belligerence”.
Likewise the US Navy is keeping a very close watch on this from several angles: satellites, surface, and submarine surveillance. Oodles of very useful information can be obtained this way.
What is missing are the ‘wild card’ actors in the region, any of those nations China has bullied and threatened in the past. Though they do not have a great reach, they do have considerable potential for mischief at Chinese expense.
The list includes South Korea, less a ship sunk at Chinese auspices by North Korea, Vietnam, Indonesia, the Philippines, and others. Any of them could likely obtain a torpedo or some naval mines and carry out a low budget, high “plausible deniability” attack.
I think the Chinese are practicing for the real thing just as the Japanese did in the 30’s and 40’s
Don’t underestimate the Japanese, they can take care of themselves.
If the PLAN meets the Japanese fleet in anger on the high seas, they will live a short, but exciting life.
Very scary times indeed.