This is where the fight will occur,
China ships in disputed waters: Japan coastguard | NDTV.com
and contrary to leftwingers opinion, China has been building a blue water navy for several years now.
“These moves into the 'distant seas' would seem inevitable for a nation as large as China,” he said. “But it goes without saying that this expansion into blue waters is largely about countering the Pacific Fleet.”
ChinaÂ’s Xinhua news agency reported that a PLA Navy destroyer and two frigates exercising in the Western Pacific earlier this year were practicing maritime confrontation, open-sea mobile combat, law enforcement and open-sea naval commanding.
“Make no mistake, the PLA Navy is focused on war at sea and about sinking an opposing fleet,” Fanell said.
There is evidence that the PLA Navy has ambitions even beyond the Pacific.
Van Tol said China sent a frigate through the Suez Canal in 2011 to evacuate citizens during unrest in Libia, and Chinese ships have participated in anti-piracy efforts off the coast of Somalia."
China's naval aspirations: A 'blue-water' force - Stripes - Independent U.S. military news from Iraq, Afghanistan and bases worldwide