@ItIsILeClerc:
Wittman is right.
Tell your friend that Java isn’t a neutral country. Not even a pro-x one.
Technically, Java (and all other DEI islands) are allied from the start. The only reason why the allies need a land unit in it (during NCM because it is a friendly area), is for claiming its IPCs and being able to build facilities there.
So in extremis, ANZAC can even land its FTR there without putting a land unit on it first.
Be careful though;
Java will fall (with or without the FTR still on it) and those FTR are never going to get back into Sydney, which becomes a juicy target for Japan…
Careful, facilities means naval bases(NB’s) and air bases(AB’s), not Industrial Complexes. Your FTR’s(fighters) on Java, may or may not survive. Depends on what round it is and depends on what round Japan attacks. You may want to build an AB on W. Australia. From there, you can stage your fighters to India in one turn or Yunnan or back to W. Australia from India. A lot of players will use the Aussie FTR’s for extra defense in India, Yunnan, Moscow or the middle East. From W. Australia you can also reach a lot of other Seazones(SZ’s) w/your FTR’s. That’s good for killing Japan’s undefended transports and navy.
As Panther pointed out in the rulebook, Anzac can absolutely land troops and aircraft on Java or any other Dutch territory starting Round 1. As mentioned in this thread, once an Allied player lands troops on a Dutch territory for the first time, while the territory is still Dutch, it becomes that country’s territory and that country gets the IPC’s for that territory. In this case Anzac. Sounds like this guy is being difficult. If he persists, you can point him to the many online games in the Boardgame section or League section of the Forum, where almost every Anzac player takes Java on Round 1. Pretty standard move for Anzac Turn 1.
The TripleA engine(online app) has this functionality built into it, where the Allies, during non-combat, can land troops or aircraft on Java on Round 1, while Java is still Dutch. Again, if the Allies, land troops on Java while it’s Dutch, then that Allied country gets the IPC’s for Java and Java immediately becomes a territory for that Allied player.
FYI, you can also land aircraft in French IndoChina(FIC) while it’s still French. If you have aircraft in India or other territories you might be able to catch the Japanese player sleeping and nail some of his navy that isn’t protected enough.
I’ve attacked many Japanese navy units with Brit and/or Anzac aircraft and navy in SZ’s, where the Japanese player is unaware you can land in FIC.