first island chain

== English == === Alternative forms === First Island Chain === Etymology === Calque from Chinese 第一島鏈／第一岛链 (Dìyī dǎoliàn). === Proper noun === first island chain (geopolitics) The first chain of major archipelagos out from the East Asian continental mainland coast. Principally composed of the Kuril Islands, Ryukyu Islands, Taiwan, the northern Philippines, Japan, 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 Sakhalin, with Sahkalin Island being the first link in the chain. ==== Related terms ==== second island chain / Second Island Chain third island chain / Third Island Chain ==== Translations ====