Military reform aims to keep America on par with increasing Chinese might

THE US Marine Corps is to ditch its tanks and slash troop numbers as it prepares to fight Second World Warstyle Pacific island-hopping campaigns, amid rising tensions with China.

A 10-year reform programme announced this week comes after warnings that Chinese advances in drone and missile technology have drastically

eroded the West’s military dominance in the Western Pacific.

In September last year, China used the 70th anniversary of the foundation of the People’s Republic to showcase its new hypersonic missiles and longrange drones, in what was widely viewed as a message to the US and its regional allies that China now possesses an advanced military capability.

The US changes will see the corps reduce troop numbers from 189,000 to

170,000, ditch all seven of its tank companies and cut back on infantry, conventional artillery and helicopters.

It would expand the number of rocket and missile batteries, drone squadrons and C-130 transport squadrons to make the corps’ better able “to support naval expeditionary warfare”. “China, in terms of military capability, is the pacing threat,” said Gen David Berger, the Marine Corps commandant. “If we did nothing, we would be passed.”

‘China, in military capability, is the pacing threat. If we did nothing, we would be passed’