first island chain

English

Alternative forms

• First Island Chain

Etymology

Calque of Chinese 第一島鏈／第一岛链 (Dìyī dǎoliàn).

Proper noun

first island chain

1. (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

Some 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.

Related terms

• second island chain / Second Island Chain
• third island chain / Third Island Chain