US Marines to join Japanese guarding remote islands

The US Marines and particularly their presence on Okinawa often have seemed the bellwether of the Japan-US defense relationship. And it’s usually been problematic. But recently there was good news involving the Marines.

At the “2+2 Meeting” of top Japanese and American defense and foreign affairs officials in Washington on January 11, it was agreed that the 12th Marine Regiment will remain on Okinawa and be converted into the 12th Marine Littoral Regiment (MLR) by 2025.

“Littoral”? That refers to a unit capable of deploying small detachments of Marines to “austere, remote islands” from which they conduct surveillance and launch anti-ship missiles at enemy ships. In this case, People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) ships. The Marines will also have some anti-air capability.