TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — The US and Japan are looking to come up with a joint military plan to deploy missile units to Japan's southwestern island chain and the Philippines in the event China attacks Taiwan.
The US and Japan are expected to come up with the plan next month, which could involve dispatching the US Marine Littoral Regiment to the Ryukyu Islands, which encompass Kagoshima and Okinawa prefectures, according to Kyodo News. The regiment is armed with the High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS), Kyodo News said, per Reuters.
If a Taiwan contingency appears likely, the US could set up temporary bases on the island chain's inhabited islands. US military guidelines call for compact formation deployment of Marines to many locations.
The Japan Self-Defense forces would primarily provide logistical support to the US troops. This would include the supply of ammunition and fuel.
Simultaneously, the US Army could send Multi-Domain Task Force long-range fire units to the Philippines. The US Army said this task force is designed to be able to operate in a multi-domain environment, including air, land, space, cyber, and information.
The Philippines in February 2023 allowed the US to expand the number of bases it can deploy troops and military equipment from five to nine. According to the report, the US will use these nine bases in the event of a Taiwan emergency.