Japan-U.S. Strengthen Military Ties - Reorganization of U.S. Marine Corps in Okinawa to Deter China

Recently CNN.co.jp reported the following:

日米が軍事関係強化、中国の抑止念頭に沖縄の米海兵隊改編へ

2023.01.12 Thu posted at 11:22 JST

 （ＣＮＮ） 日米両国は１１日、双方の軍事関係を大幅に強化し、日本における米軍の態勢を刷新すると発表した。これには改編された米海兵隊部隊の駐留も含まれる。同部隊は先進的な諜報（ちょうほう）・偵察能力のほか、対艦ミサイルの発射能力も備える。事情を把握する米国の当局者２人が明らかにした。

改編された「海兵沿岸連隊」の配備については、日米の外務・防衛担当閣僚協議（２プラス２）に臨んだ米国のオースティン国防長官が記者会見で発表した。会見にはブリンケン国務長官のほか日本側の林芳正外相、浜田靖一防衛相も同席した。

オースティン氏によると当該の連隊は戦闘力や機動性を高めており、配備は地域の抑止力拡大につながる。米軍が日本及び日本国民をより効果的に防衛することが可能になる見通しだという。

発表は中国に強力なメッセージを送るもので、日米が策定した一連の構想の一環。この構想は安全保障と諜報における両国間の結びつきを加速することを念頭に置く。

１３日にはバイデン大統領と岸田文雄首相による日米首脳会談がホワイトハウスで行われる予定。 

上記の海兵沿岸連隊は沖縄に配備され、即応部隊として日本の防衛に当たる。複数の米当局者が１１日に明らかにした。沖縄は台湾に近いことなどから、太平洋における米軍の作戦上の重要地点とみなされている。２０を超える沖縄の米軍基地には、２万５０００人以上の米軍要員が駐留する。日本の米軍基地のおよそ７割が沖縄に集中している。

今回の海兵沿岸連隊の沖縄配備は、米軍にとってこの数年で最も重要な改編だと当局者の１人は指摘する。これに先駆け、ワシントンの有力なシンクタンクが机上演習（シミュレーション）を行い、中国との軍事紛争において日本、とりわけ沖縄が極めて重大な役割を果たすとも分析していた。

このほかにも日米は１１日、両国の防衛協定を拡大し、宇宙空間での攻撃もその内容に含めると発表した。背景には急速な進歩を遂げる中国の宇宙計画や極超音速兵器の開発についての懸念の高まりがある。

Translation

(CNN) The United States and Japan announced on Monday that they would significantly strengthen their military ties and revamp the posture of the U.S. forces in Japan. This would include the presence of a reorganized U.S. Marine Corps unit. The unit would have advanced intelligence and reconnaissance capabilities, as well as the ability to launch anti-ship missiles. Two U.S. officials familiar with the matter said this.

The deployment of the reorganized "Marine Coastal Regiment" was announced at a press conference by US Secretary of Defense Austin during the Japan-US Foreign and Defense Ministerial Talks (2+2). The press conference was attended by Secretary of State Brinken, Japanese Foreign Minister Yoshimasa Hayashi, and Defense Minister Seiichi Hamada.

Austin said the regiment would become more combat and mobile, and the deployment could increase deterrence in the region. It was expected that the US military would be able to defend Japan and its people more effectively.

The announcement sent a powerful message to China and was part of a series of initiatives developed by the United States and Japan. The initiative sought to accelerate ties between the two countries in security and intelligence.

President Biden and Prime Minister Fumio Kishida would hold a Japan-US summit at the White House on the 13th.

The Marine Coastal Regiment mentioned above would be deployed to Okinawa and could serve as a readiness force to defend Japan. This was according to multiple U.S. officials on the 11th. Due to its proximity to Taiwan and other factors, Okinawa was considered an important operational point for U.S. forces in the Pacific. More than 25,000 US military personnel are stationed at more than 20 US military bases on Okinawa. About 70% of the US military bases in Japan were concentrated in Okinawa.

The deployment of the Marine Coastal Regiment to Okinawa would be the most significant restructuring of the U.S. military in years, one official said. Prior to this, an influential think tank in Washington conducted a tabletop exercise (simulation), and analyzed that Japan, especially Okinawa, would play an extremely important role in a military conflict with China.

In addition, Japan and the United States announced on the 11th that they would expand their defense pact to include attacks in outer space. This came amid growing concerns about China's rapidly advancing space program and hypersonic weapon development.

So, the US and Japan will significantly strengthen their military ties and revamp the posture of the U.S. forces in Japan by reorganizing the U.S. Marine Corps unit. It is quite clear that the level of confrontation in the area is increasing.