On November 25, 2024, the United States Marine Corps announced plans to establish temporary military bases on the Nansei Islands in Japan and the Philippines, aimed at addressing potential crises involving Taiwan. According to Kyodo news agency, these bases will host missile units as part of a broader operational strategy developed between the US and Japan.
The Nansei Islands, stretching from Kagoshima and Okinawa prefectures towards Taiwan, will serve as key locations for US military assets, including HIMARS missile systems. As part of this arrangement, Japan's Self-Defense Forces are expected to provide logistical support, including fuel and ammunition supplies.
In the Philippines, the US will deploy long-range fire units from the Multi-Domain Task Force, designed to operate across multiple domains: air, land, sea, space, cyber, and information. This follows a February 2023 agreement to increase the number of US-accessible military bases in the Philippines from five to nine, which are anticipated to be activated in response to any emergencies concerning Taiwan.
As of the publication date, neither Japan's Ministry of Defense nor the Pentagon has commented on the US missile deployment plans. The US Embassy in Manila declined to comment, while the Chinese Embassy acknowledged the media reports without further elaboration.
Kyodo reports that Japan and the US are enhancing their defense cooperation amid growing concerns over China's military expansion and North Korea's nuclear and missile developments, alongside its increasing military ties with Russia. Furthermore, in July 2024, Japan and the Philippines signed a bilateral defense agreement to facilitate joint exercises and strengthen security collaboration.