China sails through 'first island chain' (3)

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Wu viewed it as proof of the growing capability and confidence of the Chinese navy.

"So far, counting from the south to the north, the navy has crossed the first island chain through Bashi Channel, Miyako Strait, Osumi Strait, Tsugaru Strait, and now Soya Strait," said Du Wenlong from the Academy of Military Science.

"It has crossed all the strongest parts on the chain."

Du said the repeated passages show that the PLA navy is now capable of sending and supporting its warships to navigate and fight in channels far from the continent.

Li Li, a researcher at the PLA's National Defense University, said going through the Soya Strait means much more than giving China new access to the Pacific.

"Japan has been highly uneasy about the passage because the PLA navy usually enters the Pacific through waterways such as the Miyako Strait and the Osumi Strait, which are all in the South," she said.

Despite the Chinese fleet's passage through the first island chain, Du Wenlong said the US-Japanese alliance can closely monitor the chain with naval and air forces.

Ou Jianping, a senior expert at the National Defense University, said in an online discussion with military enthusiasts on July 26 that the Chinese navy must grow into a blue-water navy because almost all of the aggression against China in modern times came from the sea.

China has marine territory of more than 3 million sq km, and 97 percent of its trade with other countries is transported by sea, Ou said.

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