Tokyo, Nov 25 (EFE).- The US military will establish temporary bases along Japan’s Nansei island chain to deploy missile units in the event of a Taiwan contingency, according to the local news agency Kyodo.
The US Marine Littoral Regiment, which has a high mobility multiple launch artillery rocket system, will be deployed along the island chain that extends from the prefectures of Kagoshima and Okinawa towards Taiwan, according to sources familiar with US-Japan relations cited by Kyodo.
The deployment of the missile units will be included in the first t US-Japan operation plan to deal with a contingency involving China and Taiwan, which is considered a “rebel province” by Beijing, which will be formulated next month, as indicated by the aforementioned sources.
The Japanese Self-Defense Forces will be primarily engaged in logistical , including the supply of fuel and ammunition, in what will be a new example of defense cooperation between the two nations in the face of increased tensions with China, North Korea and Russia.
In the Philippines, US forces will also deploy the long-range fire units of the Multi-Domain Task Force, designed to operate in an environment that includes air, land, water, space, cyber and information.
In February 2023, the US and the Philippines agreed to increase the number of bases available for American military use in the archipelago from five to nine, and these bases are expected to be used during a possible contingency in Taiwan.
In July, Japan and the Philippines decided to strengthen their security cooperation and signed a bilateral defense agreement to facilitate t exercises and allow the deployment of their troops in their respective countries. EFE
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