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

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.