Pentagon May Send Marines to Boost Asia Forces

The Pentagon is weighing a plan to send Marine Corps Expeditionary Units to East Asia, in response to increased Chinese influence in the area, The Wall Street Journal reports. 

The plan, which prioritizes East Asia over the Middle East, is one of the first actions President Donald Trump's administration has made to follow its National Defense Strategy for the next four years.

"We have enduring interests here, and we have an enduring commitment and we have an enduring presence here," Gen. Joe Dunford, Pentagon Joint Chiefs of Staff chairman, said of America's position in Asia this week, according to the Journal.

The MEUs, which are intended as a quick reaction force, could carry-out patrols and military training with U.S. allies in the area, as well as respond to a possible conflict, should one emerge.

"We have to be present and engaged to compete," Gen. Robert Neller, Marine Corps commandant, told the newspaper. This strategy "will shape our future naval presence, especially in the Indo-Pacific region."

"I believe the [National Defense Strategy] and other guidance requires us to adopt a more global posture and this will shape our future naval presence, especially in the Indo-Pacific region," Neller added.

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