Decentring the First Island Chain Okinawa requires a recapitulation of security

Historically Okinawa has been the 'keystone' of the Western Pacific. In other words, whoever controls the so-called First Island Chain, which runs from the Japanese mainland through to Itbayat and Basco, with the Ryukyu Islands at its centre, exercises power over much of the East China Sea (ECS) region, if not the Indo-Pacific more broadly. Conversely, conceptualised as a maritime fault-line dividing great power rivals, the Okinawan islands remain a likely site of midto longterm instability and conflict through what is expected to be a period of transition in the international arena. As of today, with approximately 70% of US military bases in Japan still stationed on and around Okinawa's Main Island, and a rapidly growing Japan Self Defense Force (JSDF) presence throughout the archipelago, Japan's 47th and most south-westerly prefecture forms a key part of its radical transformation of defence and security policy. More specifically, it is being extensively fortified in preparation for prospective confrontation with China. This has already led to a dangerous arms race that includes mapping multiple scenarios for strikes and counter-strikes relating to mainland Asian targets. In addition, the training and inter-operationalisation of US and Japanese forces in readiness to defend or retake the disputed Senkaku/Diaoyu/Tiaoyutai islets have been accelerated.