Quoted from the article "China's dependence on Middle East energy imports means that it is almost certain to seek to fill any regional security vacuum."



Quite a leap, even for you, Ms Koike ? Japan is as dependent ...and therefore as certain to fill that security vacuum through re-armament ?



What China has done is to try to diversify its sources of energy imports rather than rely on power projection to protect its energy sources the way the US had. For more than a decade after the fall of South Vietnam, there was no prospect of major US military intervention in S.E. Asia. China DIDN'T try to fill that security vacuum even though its reliance on resources from that region grew during the time, as did its trade interests.



To lend cred to her "evil empire" hate portrayal of China, Ms Koike dregs up the "string of pearls" naval threat postulation, again. When examined, most of these involve commercial port leases in countries where the politics changes like the wind and none of whom are particularly strong in providing anti-aircraft or anti-missile defence for those "potential naval bases". Not the most solid of foundations on which to build power projection capability..... or on which to ratch up China-threat hysterics.