Island chain strategy: how US plans to contain China

The US has built a powerful defense system around China, called the Island Chain Strategy. This strategy, which started gaining steam in the 1990s after the Soviet Union fell apart, creates a military ring around China using three island chains.

The first chain starts from Japan, runs through Taiwan, and goes all the way to the Philippines. The second chain stretches from Western New Guinea to the Bonin Islands, Mariana Islands, and Caroline Islands. And the third and outermost chain extends from Hawaii to American Samoa, Fiji, and ends in New Zealand. Altogether, the U.S. controls over 400 military bases across the Pacific, not even counting its own islands. The goal? To counter China’s growing ambitions, especially regarding Taiwan.

This isn’t a new plan. The Island Chain Strategy was first thought up back in 1951 by John Foster Dulles, a major foreign affairs strategist. He wanted to block China and the Soviet Union from expanding their military power by controlling the seas around them. His vision was to create a ring of naval bases that would limit China’s reach. The strategy’s been updated over the years, but its core idea is still the same.

Now, with China’s military growing stronger, this strategy is more important than ever. A key part of it is Taiwan, which China has long wanted to bring under its control. Chinese President Xi Jinping has made it clear that reunification with Taiwan is a top priority. He even set a target: by 2050, Taiwan will be “reunited” with China, and he hasn’t ruled out the use of military force to get it done. The US is ready for that, though, keeping a close eye on Taiwan’s security and the surrounding waters.

The three island chains are all crucial to the strategy. The first chain, starting with the Kuril Islands and stretching to the Philippines, is the frontline of defense, controlling key maritime routes. The second chain, including the Bonin and Mariana Islands, helps block China’s access to the broader Pacific. Finally, the third chain, stretching from Hawaii to New Zealand, creates a buffer zone that strengthens the US position across the Pacific.

This island chain strategy is not just about defense. It’s about sending a strong message to China: the US is ready to push back against any threat. And as tensions rise, this strategy is a key part of keeping China in check.

(AFP)