first island chain
English
editAlternative forms
editEtymology
editCalque from Chinese 第一島鏈/第一岛链 (Dìyī dǎoliàn).
Proper noun
edit- (politics) The first chain of major archipelagos out from the East Asian continental mainland coast. Principally composed of the Kuril Islands, Japanese Archipelago, Ryu Kyu Islands, Taiwan, the northern Philippines, and Borneo; from the Kamchatka Peninsula to the Malay Peninsula.
Usage notes
editSome definitions of the first island chain anchor the northern end on the Russian Far East coast north of Sahkalin Island, with Sahkalin Island being the first link in the chain.