TOKYO: The US is drawing up contingency plans for army deployments in Japan and the Philippines in case of an emergency over Taiwan, Japan’s Kyodo information company reported.
They are going to be included in a primary joint operation plan to be formulated in December, Kyodo reported late on Sunday (Nov 24), citing sources accustomed to Japan-US relations.
A US Marine regiment which possesses the multiple-launch HIMARS (Excessive Mobility Artillery Rocket System) could be deployed alongside Japan’s Nansei island chain stretching from Kyushu to Yonaguni close to Taiwan, Kyodo mentioned.
From an early stage, if a Taiwan contingency turns into extremely imminent, non permanent bases can be arrange on inhabited islands based mostly on US army pointers for dispatching marines in small formations to a number of areas, the report added.
Japan’s army is predicted to primarily interact in logistical help for the marine unit, together with supplying gasoline and ammunition, it mentioned.
Kyodo added that the US Military would deploy Multi-Area Job Drive long-range fireplace items within the Philippines.