[glorgau]

All this Mahan stuff is irrelevant when nuclear weapons are considered.

[Smokin' Joe]

Ping...(Hope you are still healing well, thought I’d ping you to this.)

[GladesGuru]

Given that the Three Gorges Dam is now full, and given what one nuke could do there (or 2 or more smaller ones), China may be joining the “civilized nations party”, yet.

It worked for Egypt and the Aswan. Not that anyone would ever blow a dam for military reasons.

Oh, yeah - don’t overlook the possibility of sophisticated remote controlled underwater weapons, designed to wait in straits and other choke points. With such a system equipped with sound signatures of ‘undesirable craft’, one would have the equivalent of an underwater Aegis system.

[The Pack Knight]

Ironically, Japan herself could be the “sleeping giant” in this scenario. By itself, the JMSDF would already be a formidable opponent for PLAN, especially when supported by land-based air power.

Given the political will, they probably have the ability to expand their naval capabilities faster than the Chinese. China’s increasing aggressiveness at sea combined with the perception (perhaps accurate) of American weakness or indifference might just provide Japan with that political will.

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

Found an article with a map:

Chinese navy's new strategy in action

*************************EXCERPT*********************************

And :

Strait of Malacca

[Marine_Uncle]

Thanks for the post and the ping.