Is Taiwan a factor in US decision to finally start moving marines from Okinawa to Guam?

The relocation of American marines from Okinawa to Guam may be in part a move to better protect both the US territory and Taiwan in the event of conflict with the People’s Liberation Army, analysts have said.

While no unit headquarters will be moving at this stage, the United States is planning to scale back its presence on Okinawa in phases to reduce the burden on the Japanese island.

Okinawa is the largest island in the Ryukyu chain and hosts more than half of all US service personnel stationed in Japan despite accounting for less than 1 per cent of the country’s land mass.

The move has been nearly two decades in the pipeline and the heavy US military presence on Okinawa has angered many locals because of its social and environmental impact and string of serious crimes, including murder and rape, committed by US service personnel.

However, some observers believe that mainland China’s growing military capabilities – especially its hypersonic missile arsenal – is another reason to disperse US forces across the wider Pacific, with one arguing that strengthening its forces in Guam would help it come to Taiwan’s defence in the event of conflict.

According to a joint statement from the US Marine Corps and Japanese defence ministry issued on Saturday, around 100 logistics support troops from III Marine Expeditionary Force have started moving from Okinawa to Guam.