Lt. Gen. Criticizes US Army: Be Prepared if Diaoyu Islands Within Firing Range

Published in Huanqiu
(China) on 17 April 2014
by Wang HongGuang (link to originallink to original)
Translated from by Kim Wang. Edited by Sean Feely.
Lt. Gen. John Wissler, current commander of the III Marine Expeditionary Force and commander of U.S. Marines stationed in Okinawa, said: “If we were directed to take the Senkakus, could we? Yes. [But] to tell you how it would take place or would it take place or any of that would be pure speculation.” The U.S. Pacific commander speaking in such an unauthorized way in this region makes him a clear enemy of the People's Liberation Army, something that has not occurred in recent years. Is the U.S. commander in Okinawa is using scare tactics in order to instill fear in the Chinese people, government and army? Expectations may be too high.

It may not be so easy for our foreign affairs representatives on the same level as the U.S. military commander Wissler to respond directly to Wissler's provocative statements. The author of this article, previously an area commander of command posts, wanted to illustrate attitudes towards Wissler:

First, Minister of Defense Chang WanQuan claimed in a joint press conference with U.S. Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel that the Chinese army would safeguard its territorial and national sovereignty and security. He claimed that the army is prepared at any time to deal with all kinds of threats and challenges, and that they can assemble as needed by the people or the Party to fight any battle against you and win. No matter how much you try on the Diaoyu Islands issue, China will not change its military policy, goals, direction or mission.

Second, the Diaoyu Islands are in our East China area, and lie within our national security jurisdiction in the Nanjing Military Region. The Ministry's “jurisdiction” and the East China Sea have ranges that overlap. The Diaoyu Islands are less than 400 km offshore, and geographically count as coastal areas.

The author of this article is fulfilling [his] responsibility by informing you that with our armed forces, we have more than enough firepower to cover the area and hold control of the Diaoyu Islands in the water and in the air. As soldiers, we are all familiar with the military term “convoy;” the last troops' ship convoy has now developed into a firepower convoy. So, do not threaten the Diaoyu Islands' waters or its airspace. Otherwise your own security will be in danger. Before we use force to remind you, you should look carefully and draw comparisons between our troops and battlefield environments. You should also play some war games and do some computer simulations, in order to look at the odds. Otherwise, you may not understand the field.

Third, it is said that the U.S. military is occupying the Diaoyu Islands as a firing range. In our region, it just so happens that long-range aviation and other branches of [our] military firepower need this firing range. However, we are at an advantage because we do not need to deploy armed forces in advance, we just need to flip a switch and fire on site, determining firing data and emission parameters in order to deploy. When the army announces that Diaoyu is within firing range, you better be psychologically prepared.

Fourth, please understand that our military is familiar with the geography in the Diaoyu Islands. If it becomes a battlefield, your defenders would not be able to survive in any kind of livable conditions. So, our military makes moves with regards to the Diaoyu Islands and your army takes the “eliminating the threat even without landing troops” strategy — great minds think alike, no? I ask you to announce your approach to Japan and not act rashly. Also ask your military in the future if deploying troops is not a little too premature? If you want to ensure that there is a safe distance for your army, I recommend that you retreat beyond the second island chain, where it is safe for the moment.

Finally, the author of this article explains that as a former commander, I should be speaking with your superior — the commander of the Pacific Command. The current dialogue with you is based on respect for you. I have worked with your old superiors — Joint Chiefs of Staff Peter Pace and Timothy Keating — on topics of interest to the U.S. Army, having a conversation that left a great impression. Please learn from your old superiors, who were not prone to threaten with force; show respect for the Chinese army that defeated you in the Korean War. Also, I recommend that you learn the history of the Asia-Pacific War and China's serious role in it, as well as understand clearly what Japan's militarism really is.


近日,美军驻冲绳司令兼海军陆战队第三远征军司令威斯勒声称,“如果接到命令夺回钓鱼岛,我们能拿下吗?当然可以。并且不需要登岛,只需海空进攻的方式即可消除(解放军)威胁”。美军太平洋总部一个驻地区的指挥官如此越权发声、口出狂言,明确以中国人民解放军为敌,是近些年所没有的。美军驻冲绳司令的战争恐吓,是想吓住中国人民、政府和军队吗?期望值恐怕是高了。

  与威斯勒同级别的我军指挥员,鉴于我军外事纪律,不便于直接回应威斯勒的挑衅言论。笔者作为一个已经退出指挥岗位的原战区指挥官,想对威斯勒表明以下态度:

  第一,常万全部长在与贵国哈格尔防长的联合记者会中说,中国军队肩负着维护国家主权、安全和领土完整的使命,做好了应对各种威胁和挑战的准备,只要党和人民需要,就能召之即来,来之能战,战之必胜。所以,不论你如何叫嚣,在钓鱼岛问题上我国的政策方向不会变,我军作战方向和任务也不会变。

  第二,钓鱼岛当面是我华东地区,在国防安全上由我南京战区管辖。在东海上与贵部“管辖”范围重叠。钓鱼岛距我岸不足400千米,在军事地理上属于近海范畴。笔者可以负责任地告诉你,仅凭我战区武装力量,管控钓鱼岛还是绰绰有余的,我区战役火力能够覆盖钓鱼岛海域和空域。作为军人,我们都知道“护航”这个军语,过去的兵力护航,现在已经发展到火力护航。所以不要威胁在我钓鱼岛海域、空域执行任务的公务船、公务机。否则自身安全也会受到威胁。提醒你在动武前,好好研究一下兵力对比和战场环境,再搞一下兵棋推演或计算机仿真,看看胜算几何?否则可能收不了场。

  第三,据说钓鱼岛曾作过驻日美军的航空兵靶场。我区航空兵和其他远射火力兵种,在这个距离上正好也缺这样的一个靶场。好处是我战区三军部署不需要前推,在原地只要调整射向,修订一下射击诸元和发射参数,即可使用。哪天我军宣布钓鱼岛为我战区靶场,你要有心理准备。

  第四,请你明白,我军熟悉钓鱼岛的军事地理环境,如果成为战场,守军是没有任何生存条件的。所以我军对钓鱼岛的行动,与贵军“无需派兵登岛,即可消除威胁”的做法所见略同,还请你将这一做法转告日方,请勿妄动。借此还要提醒一下将军,你的部队部署是否过于靠前了?如果要确保贵军的安全距离,建议你们退到第二岛链之外,那里暂时还是安全的。

  最后还要说明一点,笔者作为曾经的战区指挥官,本应与你的上级——太平洋总部指挥官对话。当下与你对话,是对你的尊敬。笔者当年曾与你的老上级——参联会主席佩斯和太平洋总部司令基廷,就中美两军感兴趣的话题单独聊过,并留下美好记忆。请你向你的老上级学习,不要动辄以武力相威胁,请对曾经在抗美援朝战争中打败过贵军的中国军队放尊重些。还要建议你好好学习历史,对当年的太平洋战争和中国的抗日战争认真补课,搞明白日本军国主义是什么东西。
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