New U.S. Okinawa unit to counter 'China aggression': Marine chief

Defense

Regiment to have long-range firepower to sink ships from islands

20240622 U.S. Marine Corps chief Eric Smith

Gen. Eric Smith, commandant of the U.S. Marine Corps., speaks with Nikkei in Washington on June 21. (Photo by Rintaro Tobita)

RINTARO TOBITA, Nikkei staff writer

WASHINGTON — Gen. Eric Smith, commandant of the U.S. Marine Corps, told Nikkei on Friday that a new unit established in November on the Japanese island of Okinawa is designed to “counter PRC [the People’s Republic of China] aggression” in order to protect Japan and others in geopolitically sensitive areas.