Lt. Gen. James Bierman, deputy commandant for plans, policies and operations, discussed challenges faced by the U.S. military in the Western Pacific at the Navy League’s Sea-Air-Space conference in National Harbor, Md. The U.S. Marine Corps has developed littoral-based war-fighting concepts to counter China in the region. Allied nations in the Pacific are adopting these concepts, focusing on detecting, targeting, and striking enemy naval vessels. The Marines have developed Marine littoral regiments, with one operating in Hawaii, another in Okinawa (redesignated in 2023), and a future regiment planned in Guam in 2027.
Allied countries in South Korea, Japan, Taiwan, and the Philippines are either copying elements of the littoral combat concept or working towards similar moves. Success in any potential conflict will involve a combination of Marine littoral regiment assets and more traditional capabilities. The U.S. and its partners are conducting various military exercises, including Rim of the Pacific and Talisman Sabre, emphasizing shared aims and deterrence against potential adversaries.
Bierman highlighted the realism of exercises and their impact on adversaries. The focus is on cognitive impact and true interoperability to deter and unsettle potential adversaries in the region. The U.S. Marine Corps is working closely with allied nations to strengthen their collective defense against growing threats in the Pacific.
