ISTANBUL -- When Russia annexed Crimea in 2014, its Black Sea neighbors feared that Moscow would be able to establish what is known as "A2/AD" in military terms.
Short for "anti-access/area denial," the establishment of A2/AD prohibits an enemy's entry into a certain area, blocking access to vital waterways and airspace. It is seen as the core of China's strategy against the U.S. in the South and East China seas, in order to give Beijing a free hand in any Taiwan operation.
