US Military Increasing Cooperation With Japan to Prepare for War With China

The US and Japanese militaries are growing cooperation to organize for a doable battle with China over Taiwan or different areas within the Asia Pacific, the highest US Marine Corps common in Japan told Financial Times.

Lt. Gen. James Bierman, commander of the Third Marine Expeditionary Pressure (III MEF) and of Marine Forces Japan, stated the US navy was getting ready for a future battle within the area the identical approach it did in Ukraine in 2014 following the US-backed ouster of former Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych.

“Why have we achieved the extent of success we’ve achieved in Ukraine? A giant a part of that has been as a result of after Russian aggression in 2014 and 2015, we earnestly bought after getting ready for future battle: coaching for the Ukrainians, prepositioning of provides, identification of websites from which we may function assist, maintain operations,” Bierman stated.

“We name that setting the theater. And we’re setting the theater in Japan, within the Philippines, in different places,” the final added.

Bierman’s feedback got here after Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida introduced a major overhaul of the Japanese armed forces that entails doubling Tokyo’s navy finances. A brand new safety technique issued by Kishida’s authorities names China “the largest strategic problem” and consists of language that may justify navy motion in protection of the US, breaking from Japan’s post-World Conflict II pacifism.

The Marines Corps has been undergoing an overhaul of its own as it’s shifting its deal with getting ready for battle within the western Pacific quite than combating counterinsurgencies within the Center East. Bierman’s III MEF is on the heart of the revamp, which is concentrated on creating smaller items that may transfer shortly across the islands of the western Pacific because the Marines function throughout the vary of China’s missiles.

Bierman stated that cooperation with allies within the area is significant to the brand new Marine Corps technique, and the Marines have been working extra intently with Japanese forces throughout drills. The US and Japan are set to debate strengthening their alliance much more throughout a gathering of their protection ministers this week, and Kishida is ready to satisfy with President Biden in Washington this Friday.

The US can also be planning to construct 5 new navy amenities within the Philippines as a part of its buildup round China, the place it is going to be in a position to preposition extra weapons and gear. Bierman stated the buildup within the Asia Pacific will give the US “a leverage level, a base of operations, which lets you have an amazing head begin in several operational plans.”

Native officers within the Philippines stated the US might return to Subic Bay, which was as soon as the location of the biggest US naval base in Asia that closed 30 years in the past. However Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. is also looking to maintain good relations with China and will not log out on the institution of a significant US navy base.