Okinawa US Commander Wants To Intimidate China Using Word Bombs

Recently, Lt. Gen. John Wissler, commander of the U.S. military base in Okinawa, Japan, has once again put his foot in his mouth. He declared: “If we were directed to take the Senkakus, could we? Yes…. And that’s where that whole integration of our full capabilities as a Navy-Marine Corps team would be of value.”

These are mad, relentless words from this man.

However, Wissler has made an invalid assumption about the People’s Liberation Army “taking” the Diaoyu Islands and “occupying” them. Is the dispute over the Diaoyu Islands to be “played” like this? Would the PLA send a division or a brigade to the islands just to play “human pyramid”? We find it so hard to believe a U.S. military commander has such stupid ideas that he seems a little like an immature, angry military enthusiast.

Since Wissler is playing at “cheap tricks,” we find it necessary to put forward a response: China has the full ability and willpower to beat up U.S. warships in the East China Sea — dare they come invade — and perhaps even leave several gaping holes in U.S. aircraft carriers as commemoration. Chinese military officers have this confidence, but do not just go around flinging it because they know better to maintain diplomatic demeanor. However, as an upstanding medium, we speak here on their behalf.

China-U.S. [relations] are still quite on track; allowing a mindless imagination to derail this relationship does not represent the views of either country’s politicians. If this is what Wissler wants to start, China will be able to find people to take him on. There are plenty of retired officers in China whose speech is not prohibited; they have no problem matching Wissler’s imagination.

Nonetheless, we still believe that the U.S. should monitor Wissler’s mouth, since it is not his first time bad-mouthing China. Perhaps the U.S. enjoys seeking balance between East Asian countries through provocation — one plays bad cop, the other plays good cop. Wissler, however, is unreliable, and throws out words that no one can throw back. It would appear that his abilities do not justify him serving in the sensitive position of Okinawa U.S. military commander.

The U.S. forces stationed in Okinawa need to learn a more subtle way of displaying their strength to China — at least one that holds logical reason and a sense of diplomacy. To be honest, China’s military power cannot compare to that of the U.S., but is still quite at ease in the East China Sea. The U.S. warships that have been cruising here have slowly turned into “moving targets” in the eyes of the Chinese, and the entire Okinawa base is gradually being driven to the ground. It is as if Wissler were living in the 20th century; in this new century, he and his comrades need to see their reflections in their foot-washing water.

Wissler has been spreading the word that U.S. Marines stationed overseas are “the best tools to go about delivering U.S. influence.”* This may hold true in places such as Iraq, but these American soldiers mean nothing when facing China. If China and the U.S. do end up in a fight, these marines are nothing more than an orchestra that accompanies an attack, while holding onto their instruments on the battlefield.

Chinese people respect the U.S. Army because we still think it is pretty strong, even though 60 years ago, we forced it back off the 38th parallel. Furthermore, we do not believe China and the U.S. really would restart war in East Asia because it will entail a loss of “more money spent than earned.” There is also a small probability of China and Japan engaging in battle — the Diaoyu Islands are suitable for “dispute,” but it would be rather silly if the two took up arms and actually fought over deserted islands.

Usually, only the small and weak enjoy grandiloquence because they need this tactic to build up courage and unite people. The U.S. Army? Please. Wissler keeps quiet, and the Okinawa U.S. military base is still pretty prestigious. Once he talks, it reminds us of the base’s shrinking influence in the Western Pacific. Next time the Okinawa-based U.S. military threatens China, they should think twice about their language.

*Editor’s note: This quotation could not be verified.