US could retake Senkaku/ Diaoyu if China invades, says US general

The United States could overcome a potential Chinese invasion of the disputed Diaoyutai (Diaoyu to China, Senkaku to Japan) islands without even mobilizing ground forces, reports the Stars and Stripes operated by the US military, citing Lt Gen John Wissler, the commanding general of III Marine Expeditionary Force based in Okinawa, Japan, on Apr. 11.


Lieutenant General John Wissler. (Photo/US Marine Corps)

"If we were directed to take the Senkakus, could we? Yes. [But] to tell you how it would take place or would it take place or any of that would be pure speculation," Wissler told the news portal. "I think sometimes people get this idea that the Senkakus look like the island of Okinawa or, you know, any of the other major islands. It's a very, very small collection of small islands."

Believing that the US air and naval powers are capable of overcoming any threat from Chinese forces, Wissler said that ground forces including both the US Army and Marine Corps would not be necessary in a potential military operation over the disputed island chain. "You wouldn't maybe even necessarily have to put somebody on that island until you had eliminated the threat, so to speak. And that's where that whole integration of our full capabilities as a Navy-Marine Corps team would be of value," said Wissler.

When asked about the possibility of deploying US Army helicopters aboard the amphibious assault ship of US Marine Corps for joint operations, Wissler agreed that it is a good idea but stressed that there will also be difficulties as many marines lack the sufficient training needed.

China has been locked in an ongoing territorial dispute with Japan over the islands in the East China Sea, which are also claimed by Taiwan.

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