Well about time. The Japanese owns Ishigaki Island and it controls the SLOC backdoor to Taiwan. BTW Ishigaki is approximately 216 miles directly West of Taiwan and part of the Japanese Yaeyama Island Chain. Another island in the Yaeyama Chain is Yonaguni, smaller but it splits the distance between Ishigaki and Taiwan. Yonaguni also has a 2000 meter operational airport. When I did an AI search on the length of the Yonaguni Airport, the returned AI final comment about the 2000 meters was: “Quite a stretch for such a remote island, right?”
Why these islands are strategically important is Taiwan’s war plans (if they do not go well) call for a military retreat to the mountains in the east side of their island to wait for military help/relief. The CCP cannot exceed in a Taiwan invasion unless they isolate their objective. If the CCP makes a surprise attack on Taiwan they should and probably will seize the islands that will surround and isolate Taiwan. There is no military presence on these islands and they are basically tourist spots. Their only protection is Japan’s international boundaries.
Britain had a similar problem at the beginning of WW2. Iceland was strategically important because they needed to protect the Atlantic shipping lanes by securing the Britain, Iceland and Greenland Gap. Iceland was undefended with no military (and still is). Churchill would seize Iceland with one untrained Royal Marine Battalion. He then also asked FDR for help, who then ordered the 6th Marines to Iceland to participate with the occupation.
If you look at the current CCP military exercises around Taiwan, it is plain as day light that their intent is to isolate Taiwan not only politically but also militarily. If you look at the live fire missile target areas used in these exercises, there is one between Taiwan and just a couple clicks of windage from the Yonaguni Islands. https://taiwancss.org/2022/09/30/august-22-pla-military-exercises-implications-for-taiwans-security/ Like I said: Plain as day light.
One of my issues with the MLR is its defensive nature and its perspective need to be in place before the shooting starts. If the MLR is such a good idea let’s sell it to Japan. Let them employ it on the Yaeyama Islands. The US Marine Corps can then save its combat power to seize these islands, especially if the CCP beats us to their occupation.
It is now October 2024, and we seem to be behind the CCP in our strategic war planning in the Pacific. Yep, time to pick up the pace. S/F
Right on point, Sir. Let the Japanese deploy their own littoral force. They are already within the WEZ. Let the Marine Corps do what it does best: assault beaches and take property.
As the CHICOMs invest and expand their military power projection and capabilities, the Corps continues to "divest" its proven capabilities and has rendered its MAGTF capabilities to be irrelevant and impotent to deter or engage the CHICOMs, or any other threat in the other 98% of the globe... VISION2035 must be implemented immediately to restore our Corps' lethality and strengths!
Or. We can preemptively remove all our assets in the Pacific and build up defensive forces in AK,CA,OR and WA. Seems as if the congress isn’t going to defend in depth, so we should at least give them a fierce defense on the homeland. (I say this half in jest and half being realistic)
Headline: Marine field commander’s first visit to Japanese island sends message, experts say
https://www.stripes.com/branches/marine_corps/2024-10-30/ishigaki-island-japan-marine-generals-15674251.html
Well about time. The Japanese owns Ishigaki Island and it controls the SLOC backdoor to Taiwan. BTW Ishigaki is approximately 216 miles directly West of Taiwan and part of the Japanese Yaeyama Island Chain. Another island in the Yaeyama Chain is Yonaguni, smaller but it splits the distance between Ishigaki and Taiwan. Yonaguni also has a 2000 meter operational airport. When I did an AI search on the length of the Yonaguni Airport, the returned AI final comment about the 2000 meters was: “Quite a stretch for such a remote island, right?”
Why these islands are strategically important is Taiwan’s war plans (if they do not go well) call for a military retreat to the mountains in the east side of their island to wait for military help/relief. The CCP cannot exceed in a Taiwan invasion unless they isolate their objective. If the CCP makes a surprise attack on Taiwan they should and probably will seize the islands that will surround and isolate Taiwan. There is no military presence on these islands and they are basically tourist spots. Their only protection is Japan’s international boundaries.
Britain had a similar problem at the beginning of WW2. Iceland was strategically important because they needed to protect the Atlantic shipping lanes by securing the Britain, Iceland and Greenland Gap. Iceland was undefended with no military (and still is). Churchill would seize Iceland with one untrained Royal Marine Battalion. He then also asked FDR for help, who then ordered the 6th Marines to Iceland to participate with the occupation.
If you look at the current CCP military exercises around Taiwan, it is plain as day light that their intent is to isolate Taiwan not only politically but also militarily. If you look at the live fire missile target areas used in these exercises, there is one between Taiwan and just a couple clicks of windage from the Yonaguni Islands. https://taiwancss.org/2022/09/30/august-22-pla-military-exercises-implications-for-taiwans-security/ Like I said: Plain as day light.
One of my issues with the MLR is its defensive nature and its perspective need to be in place before the shooting starts. If the MLR is such a good idea let’s sell it to Japan. Let them employ it on the Yaeyama Islands. The US Marine Corps can then save its combat power to seize these islands, especially if the CCP beats us to their occupation.
It is now October 2024, and we seem to be behind the CCP in our strategic war planning in the Pacific. Yep, time to pick up the pace. S/F
Right on point, Sir. Let the Japanese deploy their own littoral force. They are already within the WEZ. Let the Marine Corps do what it does best: assault beaches and take property.
As the CHICOMs invest and expand their military power projection and capabilities, the Corps continues to "divest" its proven capabilities and has rendered its MAGTF capabilities to be irrelevant and impotent to deter or engage the CHICOMs, or any other threat in the other 98% of the globe... VISION2035 must be implemented immediately to restore our Corps' lethality and strengths!
Or. We can preemptively remove all our assets in the Pacific and build up defensive forces in AK,CA,OR and WA. Seems as if the congress isn’t going to defend in depth, so we should at least give them a fierce defense on the homeland. (I say this half in jest and half being realistic)