U.S. Marine Corps and Philippine forces have arrived on a small island approximately 160 km from the southern tip of Taiwan, where a unit equipped with automatic rifles and machine guns from Black Hawk helicopters has taken positions around the airport. This force, reported by the Wall Street Journal, belongs to the Third Marine Littoral Regiment, established two years ago as part of a comprehensive redesign aimed at better preparing U.S. Marines for great power competition.
These forces are preparing for potential intervention in the event of an anticipated Chinese attack on Taiwan, which could escalate into a major war if the West intervenes to defend Taiwan. In wartime, these Marines will advance with missiles and radars, deploying in small groups across islands and coastlines. They will continue to move to avoid detection from Chinese missiles, sensors, and drones.
Colonel John Leihan, commander of the 2,500-soldier regiment based in Hawaii, stated that the adversary would have to "spend a tremendous amount of resources to figure out where we are and what we are doing." In the event of war, threats would be omnipresent, complicating supply provisions for the forces. China possesses a vast arsenal of missiles, as well as drones of all shapes and sizes, and enjoys the advantage of fighting in what it considers its backyard, close to its naval fleet, military bases, and extensive surveillance networks.
