U.S. Military Prepping for War with China, Deploys Thousands of Troops to Pacific

Business Insider— China is rapidly expanding its naval power and increasing its presence in the South China Sea.

In response, the Pentagon is placing more troops in the region than at any time since World War II, virtually flanking China’s eastern border with bases.

First, Australia will host a deployment of 200 U.S. Marines due to arrive in just a few weeks.

It will be the first rotation since the partnership was announced last year.

A 2,000 strong Marine expeditionary unit may eventually be stationed in Darwin, northern Australia, close to the South China Sea.

Japan will also host more U.S. deployments. The Marine Corps Times reports that the Corps will restart regular six-month deployments to Okinawa and the mainland. The usual rotations slowed down in 2005 as troops were diverted to Iraq and Afghanistan.

In the last year, China has gone as far as the Philippines where the encroaching Chinese were accused of intimidation and harassment as a maritime territorial dispute flared up.

President Benigno Aquino said this week to the AFP that he welcomes more U.S. troops to rotate through. The Philippines just announced another round of mutual defense exercises and training drills with the U.S. military as part of the ongoing Balikatan “shoulder-to-shoulder” program.

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