Sino-Japanese Rivalry at Sea: How Tokyo Can Go Anti-Access on China

This article contends that as Japan weakens relative to China it must think creatively about blunting key components of China's military strategy, particularly in the maritime domain. To advance this argument, this study samples recent Japanese threat perceptions of China; assesses the growing Sino-Japanese military imbalance; illustrates some asymmetric responses that may help Japan exploit its geographic advantages while competing more effectively; and identifies the risks to the proposed countermoves against China's challenge. The bottom line is that if Japan hopes to stay in the game, it must employ its military power imaginatively, making the Asian seas and airspace less and less hospitable to Chinese forces as they turn seaward.