(a) It protects the western entrance to the South China Sea. If Malaya were lost the South China Sea would be laid open to attack by the United Nations. This would cause a severe strain to the communications between Japan and the southern parts of her co-prosperity sphere. (b) It forms a land link between the Asiatic mainland and the East Indian Archipelago. This link is of vital importance since its loss would break the chain of airbases which is an essential part of Japan's defences against seaborne attacks from the west or south.
- Collection ID
- CAB81
- Conflict
- Second World War
- Countries
- China India Indochina Japan Malaya Netherlands Philippines Siam Singapore
- Document Reference
- CAB 81/110/73
- Document Types
- Report
- File Reference
- CAB 81/110
- Identifier
- 10.1080/swwf.cab81.0110.073
- Keywords
- Colonies Empire Pacific War Naval Bases Japanese Navy Assessing Enemy Strength Naval Strength Economy Defence Japanese Strategy Japanese War Effort Geographic Intelligence
- Languages
- English
- Organizations
- Chiefs of Staff Joint Intelligence Sub-Committee United Nations
- Pages
- 2
- Persons Discussed
- Victor Cavendish-Bentinck Francis Davidson Charles Medhurst Geoffrey Vickers
- Published in
- United Kingdom
- Themes
- Military Intelligence
