The Coming War on China

Seasoned reporter John Pilger returns with a typically combative crowd-funded feature documentary tracing America's post-Second World War military build-up in the Asia-Pacific sphere, and its legacy at a time when geopolitical tensions between the US and new economic rival China are increasing. Where mainstream news sources have highlighted China's naval expansion into disputed territories in the South China Sea, Pilger characteristically explores the opposite angle, questioning the ultimate purpose of a whole phalanx of US bases from Australia through the Pacific to South Korea and Japan - all pointing their weaponry at China. Such a massive project requires an enemy, Pilger argues, making a persuasive case for the possibility of the military conflict suggested in the title, which now seems to loom yet closer given newly elected President Trump's bellicose statements on the campaign trail. It's a partisan view, of course, which perhaps goes a little easy on China's own strategic goals. However, the film remains a worthwhile provocation overall, especially affecting when giving a voice to the Marshall Islanders who've suffered the brunt of America's nuclear test programme, and indeed heroic local protesters in Okinawa and Jeju Island putting up stern resistance to the US war machine.