By Zhang Junshe
The Marine Corps Base (MCB) Camp Blaz in Guam, the first newly constructed Marine Corps base in 70 years by the US, has been officially activated on January 26, according to several US media reports.
Those reports analyzed that this is a specific move to implement measures to enhance strength against the so-called "great-power competition", especially to boost military intervention capabilities in the Asia-Pacific region based on the multiple war-games conducted by the US military and think tanks recently.
Gen. David H. Berger, the commandant of the US Marine Corps, said that these war-games have promoted many major decisions made in recent years to some extent and fundamentally changed the design of the US Marine Corps. The recent targeted measures put forward by the US in implementing war-games results mainly present the following trends.
To build Guam into an outpost and bridgehead for military operations in the Asia-Pacific region. In recent years, the US has built many military facilities in Guam, turning Guam into the main military strongpoint of the US military in the Western Pacific. The US has deployed nuclear strategic forces, such as US strategic bombers and attack nuclear submarines, as well as a nuclear arsenal in Guam. Its nuclear-powered aircraft carrier formation can also dock here. The MCB Camp Blaz activated this time will receive 5,000 US Marines relocated from the Okinawa Base in December 2024. The US media reported that the Marine Corps would be the first ground troop to respond in the event of wars.
In addition, the US Air Force is expanding the airfield on Tinian Island near Guam, in which the US military wants to deploy 14 large aerial tankers so that the fifth-generation aircraft deployed in Guam can go to the so-called “first island chain” and stay as long as possible.
To explore new leapfrogging tactics. According to US media reports, the US Marine Corps is exploring new leapfrogging tactics in order to win the new-type great power war. The Marine Corps' F-35B fighter jets play an important role in US military's "Expeditionary Advanced Base Operations" (EABO) concept. With the help of material support aircraft, the F-35B will implement leapfrogging tactics on vast oceanic islands, that is, to choose relatively smaller and simpler helicopter airfields, and to verify the combat capabilities of fighter jets in austere, remote, and hastily established locations to better suit the EABO concept.
In recent years, the US has turned its attention to how to deal with the so-called "great-power competition". In response, the US Marine Corps has made profound changes in its organization, training and equipment to adapt to the new battlefield environment from inland to coastal areas and new combat opponents from non-state actors to near-peer competitors.
To form three Marine Littoral Regiments (MLRs). According to reports, the US Marine Corps will form three MLRs to be deployed in the Asia-Pacific region. In Japan's southwestern islands, the Pentagon will reorganize the US Marine Corps stationed in Okinawa and form a MLR in Okinawa by the end of 2025. This is the product of the strategic transformation of the US Marine Corps. Some people believe that the real purpose of this reorganization is to deal with the possible events in the Taiwan Strait. According to reports, the main equipment of the MLR includes the Navy Marine Expeditionary Ship Interdiction System (NMESIS), which is capable of anti-ship operations and land attack operations. The three MLRs will have more than 100 long-range unmanned surface ships, 14 sets of NMESIS, 252 launchers and hundreds of strike missiles.
To substantially increase the number of anti-ship missiles in Japan. According to media reports, three US officials recently said that the US will significantly increase the number of its anti-ship missiles in Japan to enhance anti-ship capabilities as part of efforts to deter China. Recently, the commander of the US Marine Corps in Japan also said that the US and its Asian allies are preparing for the possible conflict with China.
Above-mentioned movements of the US military require a high degree of vigilance, as well as corresponding adjustments and countermeasures.
(The author is a naval military expert)
Editor's note: Originally published on huanqiu.com, this article is translated from Chinese into English and edited by the China Military Online. The information and opinions in this article do not necessarily reflect the views of eng.chinamil.com.cn.
