A former commander of Japan's Maritime Self-Defense Force's antisubmarine air wing has argued that Beijing wants to turn the disputed Senkaku (Diaoyu) Islands into a "safe haven" for Chinese nuclear submarines.
Speaking to the Japan Times, Sumihiko Kawamura urged the Japanese government to ease restrictions that prevent the MSDF and Japanese Coast Guard from firing live warning shots at ships approaching the islands.
A Chinese "second-strike" capability with submarine-launched ballistic missiles that reach the US mainland could dissuade the US from intervening in a conflict between China and Japan or Taiwan.