More than 5,000 United States Marines and sailors are deployed with three warships in the waters near China, forming a “ready now” combat power, the U.S. military said Monday.
Newsweek contacted the Chinese Defense Ministry for comment.
Why It Matters
The U.S. military has viewed China as its “pacing challenge,” which poses a long-term risk to Washington’s influence and power. The first island chain, a U.S. defense concept that constrains Chinese military activities, is formed by America’s allies and partners—Japan, Taiwan, and the Philippines—in the Western Pacific Ocean.
Washington, a treaty ally of Tokyo, has deployed its air, land, marine and naval forces in Japan, including a nuclear-powered aircraft carrier, as well as an amphibious assault ship that can carry fighter jets, constituting the 55,000-strong U.S. force that deters aggression.
What To Know
The U.S. 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) announced that the unit, based out of Japan’s Okinawa Island, went aboard U.S. Navy ships of the Amphibious Ready Group (ARG) on January 28, “campaigning and competing in the Indo-Pacific region.”
The U.S. Marine Corps unit serves as a U.S. expeditionary force, which is being positioned forward for crisis response and power projection. It is associated with three amphibious warships that assemble an ARG, deploying together for a range of operations.
Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Jeadan Andre/U.S. Navy
USS America, which is a U.S. Navy amphibious assault ship that deploys with the F-35B Lightning II stealth fighter aircraft, forms the ARG with an amphibious transport dock ship, USS San Diego, as well as an amphibious dock landing ship, USS Rushmore.
U.S. Marines assigned to the 31st MEU prepared to embark aboard the America while the warship was pierside in Okinawa, official photos showed. The Japanese island, which is in the country’s southwestern waters, serves as a U.S. military hub on the first island chain.
“We’re looking at a pretty large chunk of INDOPACOM [U.S. Indo-Pacific Command]’s ‘ready now’ combat power,” 31st MEU commander Colonel Chris Niedziocha said.
The America ARG and the 31st MEU conducted “routine operations” in the Philippine Sea within the U.S. Seventh Fleet’s operating area, which covers the Western Pacific Ocean, to preserve a free and open Indo-Pacific region as of Tuesday, the U.S. Navy said in a photo.
What People Are Saying
U.S. 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit: “The Amphibious Ready Group-Marine Expeditionary Unit [ARG/MEU] forms a cohesive Navy and Marine Corps combined-arms team, ready to respond across a range of military operations. The Navy and Marine Corps team delivers decisive, integrated American naval power.”
U.S. Marine Corps Colonel Chris Niedziocha, commanding officer of the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit: “Here in the first island chain, the ARG/MEU team competes every day with our opponent. It’s exhilarating to be this far forward, embarked aboard warships—deterring the adversary, reassuring our partners, and signaling resolve.”
What Happens Next
It remains to be seen whether the America ARG and the 31st MEU will conduct any joint training exercise with the U.S. and French aircraft carrier groups, which are deployed in the South China Sea and nearby waters, according to Newsweek‘s weekly update.
