US & Japanese Marines “Rehearse” For Amphibious War in the Pacific

Video Above: Does the U.S. Have an Appetite for a Military Conflict with China?

By Kris Osborn – President & Editor-In-Chief, Warrior Maven

The US Marine Corps is sending a clear message that its force is ready to fight on ocean and island areas alongside allied Japanese forces in the event of any Chinese attack, according to a recently released service video.

The video explains that a recently completed six-month long deployment of US and Japanese Marines was not a “training” exercise but rather a decided effort to “replicate,” and “rehearse” actual combat scenarios the forces would likely encounter in island areas near Japan and Taiwan.

Prepared to Fight

While the video was clear not to suggest any impending “offensive” operations or attacks per say, the emphasis was clear that current operations with US and Japanese Marines are ready to “fight now.” The Unit Deployment Program was specifically described as “not” being training but rather actual “rehearsals” of what maritime warfare would involve in the multi-domain area of Japan’s southern islands.

Given its proximity to Taiwan, it seems clear that this area would be essential to any kind of US-Japanese defense against a Chinese amphibious invasion to annex Taiwan. 

According to Global Firepower, Japan can assemble as many as 1 million soldiers and Marines if needed for an immediate fight, and part of Japan’s southern island chains are roughly 500 miles or so from Taiwan depending upon the point of take-off.