Two weeks ago we detailed the latest flare-up in maritime tensions between Japan and China after Chinese ships intruded into the Japanese-claimed Senkaku Islands area in disputed East China Sea waters, staying for a record amount of time according to Japan's Defense Minister, who previously called the situation "intolerable".
The stakes have now been raised as of early this week given the head of US forces in Japan has said the Pentagon could send American troops to defend the Senkaku Islands from future Chinese aggression.
"Our arrival today was simply to demonstrate the ability to move a few people but the same capability could be used to deploy combat troops to defend the Senkaku Islands or respond to other crisis and contingencies," Lt. Gen. Kevin Schneider said on Monday.
He further went through a list of "malign activities" by Beijing in the region during his briefing from the deck of a Japanese destroyer.
The occasion was the commencement of Keen Sword 21, a major ten day joint annual exercises between the US and Japanese navies. It involves almost ten thousand US troops and some 37,000 Japanese troops along with 170 aircraft and 20 ships, according to international reports.
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