This is John Batchel, a conversation with my colleague Lance Gatling. He's in Tokyo.

The intention of the Japanese government is to defend the homeland and the Okinawa Island chain that extends from Japan's archipelago down to almost Taiwan.

The PLA Navy must pass through those islands in order to reach the Pacific and must

break out under fire, presumably, if they've also at the same time launched a takeover of Taiwan

or a blockade of Taiwan. Lance describes the preparation for the Chinese attempt to break out.

It has to do with anti-ship missiles.

Very detailed.

Here's Lance Gatling on the Japanese defense of its homeland

and its Okinawa Island chain and of Taiwan and of all of our allies in East Asia.

Much more of this later.

The Japanese have decided to make a statement to the Chinese that they will defend these

islands. Now, the primary passages between these islands, say the Karama Straits, are used by anyone.

There's no notice required that they're considered international straits.

But the belief has become pretty widespread in Japan that it would be difficult for Japan

not to be involved in open hostilities

with Taiwan because of the proximity of these islands and the fact that the PLA Navy would have

to transit that.

And also the straits, the Bashi Straits between Taiwan and the Philippines.

These same marine units in a type of

weapon were actually deployed in some small islands north of Luzon. One of them is the Kalegan

Island. And once again, these are small, in those cases, they're very lightly inhabited.

But if you look at putting missiles of this capability on both sides of that straight, say

...