Japan clearly expects a Chinese invasion of its Senkaku Islands in the East China Sea and has crafted a new defense plan to defeat that upcoming assault along with armed intervention from the United States.

The Japan Self-Defense Forces' (JSDF) "Dynamic Defense Plan" will combine amphibious and air assault operations and entail the acquisition of new weapons and equipment.

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The new plan concentrates Japan's military power on defending the southern Senkaku and Ryukyu island chains against an invasion by the People's Liberation Army Ground Force supported by the People's Liberation Army Navy and the People's Liberation Army Air Force.

The linchpin of this new plan is the newly organized "Tokubetsu Rikusentai" or the Amphibious Brigade of Marines from the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF). This rapid reaction force will be based at the city of Sasebo on the southern island of Kyushu.

This deployment close to the U.S. Fleet Activities Sasebo navy base will ensure an uninterrupted flow of supplies from this huge logistics base in support of forward-deployed units of the JSDF and the U.S. military.

The JMSDF Amphibious Brigade should attain initial operational capability by 2017. It will initially consist of 2,000 men and will reach full strength at 3,000 Japanese Marines.

The nucleus of the brigade will be the Western Army Infantry Regiment (WAIR), a light infantry battalion trained in amphibious warfare. WAIR has participated in amphibious exercises with U.S. Marines since 2000.

In their new role, the men of this unit will defend against an amphibious attack instead of launching this attack themselves.

The Amphibious Brigade will consist of three marine infantry battalions supported by the new Maneuver Combat Vehicle (MCV), a new, Japanese-made 8 x 8 heavy wheeled tank destroyer with a 105 millimeter gun designed for the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force.

The MCV is designed only for defending against a Chinese invasion of the home islands.

The brigade's tactical transport will consist of 30 Assault Amphibious Vehicles (AAVs) purchased from the U.S. Marines and refurbished by BAE Systems. It will also be equipped with 17 Bell Boeing V-22 Osprey tiltrotor military aircraft. The Ospreys will be deployed to the Senkakus and the Nansei Islands.

TagsJapan, Invasion, china, Senkaku Islands, Japan Self-Defense Forces, Dynamic Defense Plan, United States, Tokubetsu Rikusentai