Overview

• The United States is drafting contingency plans to deploy military forces in Japan and the Philippines in the event of a Taiwan-related crisis, according to reports from Japan's Kyodo news agency.
• Plans involve positioning a US Marine regiment equipped with HIMARS rocket systems along Japan's Nansei island chain, near Taiwan, and establishing temporary bases on inhabited islands if tensions escalate.
• In the Philippines, the US Army may deploy specialized long-range fire units as part of its multi-domain task force strategy.
• Japan's military is expected to provide logistical support, including fuel and ammunition, while the Philippines and Japanese defense ministries have not commented on the reports.
• China has condemned the potential US military plans, reiterating its claim over Taiwan and accusing Washington of destabilizing regional peace and provoking confrontations.