#99: Island Chain Strategy

Take a rough idea

- US strategic maritime containment plan (by JF Dulles)
- Surrounds Soviet and China with US Naval bases in West Pacific to project power and restrict sea access

First Island Chain

- Begins at Kuril Islands and finishes towards Borneo
- Serves as maritime boundaries between East China Sea and Philippines sea, South China Sea and Sulu sea
- Conceptualized during Cold War to contain spread of Soviet Union influence
- Mid point and key part of the chain: Taiwan

Second Island Chain

- Begins at Bonin and Volcano islands of Japan to Western New Guinea
- Serves as eastern maritime boundary of Philippines sea

Third Island Chain

- Aleutian Island to New Zealand covering islands like Hawaii, Samoa, Fiji etc.
- Australia serves as staple between 2nd and 3rd chains