alert! The U.S. and Japan exercise "fighting in the first island chain", experts: It is a tactic specially tailored for China
[Global Times Special Correspondent Li Qiang] The US military and the Japanese Self-Defense Force recently held a large-scale "magnificent fusion" joint exercise near the Miyako Strait and the Luzon Strait.
The Pentagon has repeatedly emphasized in the statement that the exercise is intended to demonstrate "how the United States and Japan fight in the first island chain."
Chinese military experts interviewed by the "Global Times" said on the 8th that the "Magnificent Fusion" exercise focuses on rehearsing the concept of "Expeditionary Advance Base Operations (EABO)", which aims to seize the islands of the first island chain and use them as bases for Attacks are carried out outside the range of the opponent's anti-access capability.
Obviously, this is a tactic specially tailored by the US and Japan to target China.
Targeting the "First Island Chain Threat"
Japan's Kyodo News said on the 7th that the U.S. Marine Corps and the Navy conducted a "magnificent fusion" joint exercise near the Miyako Strait in Okinawa from February 3 to 7, including dispersing small-scale troops. "Expeditionary Advance Base Operations".
The US alone dispatched more than 10,000 troops, including the US amphibious assault ship USS Essex, the Marine Corps Rapid Response Force, and the 11th Marine Corps Expeditionary Force.
The Japanese Self-Defense Forces also participated in the exercise.
In fact, the "Magnificent Fusion" exercise is not limited to the vicinity of Okinawa.
According to the website of the US Naval Institute, the "Magnificent Fusion" exercise was held near the Luzon Strait and Miyako Strait at the same time. The 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU), the "Essex" Amphibious Combat Readiness Group and the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit on board, as well as the US Air Force and the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force, participated in the exercise.
"The integration of dual MEU/ARGs with carrier strike groups and Japanese allies demonstrates our ability to command and control in disputed areas," Col. Michael Brennan, the combatant commander of Joint Task Force 79, said in a statement. The ability to control lethal force, achieve strategic advantage, and conduct integrated deterrence. Our maritime denial operations with Naval Expeditionary Forces and our allies prepare us for potential hostile aggression in the first island chain.”
Rehearsal against the target of the first island chain
This joint exercise between the United States and Japan is not only large in scale, but also very targeted.
According to the website of the US Naval Institute, the exercise was kicked off by the "Lincoln" aircraft carrier and the "Essex" amphibious assault ship.
In the Luzon Strait, AV-8B fighter jets and MV-22B transport aircraft of the 11th Marine Expeditionary Force took off from USS Essex and joined E-2D Advanced Hawkeyes from USS Lincoln "The early warning aircraft exercises integrated air combat operations.
The USS America amphibious combat readiness group and the 31st Marine Corps Expeditionary Force dispatched F-35B stealth fighter jets to conduct two live air-to-ground bombings at the first island chain training ground.
The Japanese destroyer USS Kongo and the USS Dewey assist in command and control.
Multiple "Super Hornet" fighter jets and E-2D early warning aircraft from the "Lincoln" also conducted simulated strikes on surface targets near the first island chain at night.
A press release issued by the Pentagon on the 6th revealed that the U.S. Navy, Marine Corps and Air Force established an "Expeditionary Advance Base" near Okinawa with the Japanese Self-Defense Forces during the "Magnificent Fusion" exercise.
The 31st Marine Expeditionary Force first conducts a "speedboat raid" on the target beach, simulating capturing a key area controlled by an adversary and quickly eliminating "enemy combatants" in the nearby area.
Subsequently, the "Haimas" high-mobility rocket launcher system was stationed on the beachhead to establish control over the coastal area.
After securing the beach, "battalion-level landing forces" searched along the coast for "enemy missile and radar systems."
At the same time, the "Super Hornet" fighter jets, as well as the Marine Corps' AH-1Z armed helicopters and UH-1Y utility helicopters, circled overhead, ready to provide close air support at any time.
The intention to intervene in the Taiwan Strait is obvious
Zhang Xuefeng, a Chinese military expert interviewed by the Global Times, said that the exercise is mainly to exercise and verify the concept of the "Expedition Forward Base" and related equipment.
The concept is to strike and capture islands on the periphery of an imaginary enemy denial zone, establish bases on them, provide fuel and supplies for the US Marine Corps and the Navy, and then further infiltrate the opponent's anti-access/area denial system.
The F-35B stealth fighter, "Osprey" tilt-rotor transport aircraft, "Haimas" rocket launcher, AH-1Z armed helicopter, etc. participating in the exercise are the main weapons of the concept of "Expedition Forward Base".
Zhang Xuefeng believes that this move has obvious implications for China. In particular, the "Magnificent Fusion" exercise area is located in the Miyako Strait and the Luzon Strait, which are located in the north and southeast of Taiwan respectively. The purpose of intervening in the Taiwan Strait is also very clear.
However, Zhang Xuefeng said that the first island chain is now completely within the range of the PLA's firepower, and the PLA's land-based, sea-based aviation forces, and multi-type ballistic missiles can effectively strike it.
The ships of the amphibious strike group and expeditionary combat readiness group participated in the exercise by the United States and Japan are actually within the coverage of the PLA's anti-ship firepower.
The U.S. Marine Corps expects to use small-scale troops to seize the island. "It sounds ideal, but the reality will be very skinny."