The Navy intelligence officer who stated that China’s military is training to wage a short and decisive war against Japan simply was stating a personal opinion, a Pentagon spokesman said. Capt. James Fanell, the director of intelligence and information operations for the U.S. Pacific Fleet, had made the remarks during a maritime-strategy conference in San Diego in mid-February. Fanell cited expanded Chinese exercises, seemingly geared toward bringing Taiwan under the mainland umbrella someday. Regarding Japan, Fanell opined that such a conflict could stem China’s seizure of a disputed island chain – known as Senkaku in Japan and Diaoyu in China, Reuters reported Feb. 20. “Those were his views to express,” Pentagon spokesman Rear Adm. John Kirby, told reporters in response to a related question. “Secretary [Chuck] Hagel believes … that the peaceful, prosperous rise of China is a good thing for the region, for the world.”