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According to a Japanese news outlet citing sources familiar with US-Japan relations, the United States is planning to deploy military forces to Japan’s southern islands and the Philippines as part of a joint strategy with Japan to respond to a potential Chinese invasion of Taiwan.
Something you should know before you read: Over the last three years, China has intensified its military activities around Taiwan, conducting frequent air and naval drills near the island in a show of force aimed at asserting its claims over what it considers a breakaway province. Beijing views Taiwan as a key part of its territorial integrity and national identity, citing historical and cultural ties as justification for reunification. President Xi Jinping has warned that reunification is inevitable and will be done by force if necessary. Xi reportedly set 2027 as the target year for the Chinese military to be fully prepared for a potential war involving Taiwan, aligning with the centennial of the People’s Liberation Army.
What’s the deal: According to Japanese news outlet Kyodo, the United States and Japan are creating a joint operation plan that involves the deployment of US Marine Littoral Regiments and Army Multi-Domain Task Forces to strategic locations in Japan’s southwestern Nansei island chain and the Philippines. These plans aim to address potential military contingencies involving China and Taiwan. A Marine Littoral Regiment equipped with High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems (HIMARS) will be stationed on the Nansei islands stretching from Kyushu to Yonaguni, near Taiwan, to establish chokepoint defenses and enhance regional deterrence.
Temporary bases would also be set up on inhabited islands, with Japan’s Self-Defense Forces providing logistical support, including ammunition and fuel. In addition, the US Army will deploy its Multi-Domain Task Force units to the Philippines, leveraging newly expanded access to bases under a 2023 agreement between the US and the Philippines. These units are designed to operate across multiple domains—land, air, sea, space, cyber, and information—ensuring rapid adaptability in crisis scenarios.
China reacts: During a press conference, Chinese foreign ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning was asked about the claims by Kyodo; she replied, “Taiwan is an inalienable part of China’s territory, and the Taiwan question is China’s internal affair. The key to upholding cross-Strait peace and stability is to remain committed to the one-China principle. China firmly opposes relevant countries using the Taiwan question as an excuse to strengthen military deployment in the region, heighten tensions and confrontation, and disturb regional peace and stability.”
