>> Today at the white house,
president welcome to the prime
minister of Japan as he ended
her tour of top industrial and
military allies.
Japan, like many nations in Asia
and beyond is wary of arise in
muscular China.
The leaders pledged to work
closely together on military
matters including the remaking
of a fabled American military
branch in the pacific.
>> In the air above Japan this
week, Japanese paratroopers
trained for an airborne assault.
For years they have been called
the self-defense forces.
But now they are jumping into a
new future.
And with the U.S. Transforming
their military to prepare long
for war with China.
Japan promises to double defense
spending by 2027.
And purchased missiles that can
strike deep into other
countries.
>> I think it's historic.
Japan has never put this much
resources all at once into
building its military power.
>> Sheila Smith is a senior
fellow at the council on foreign
relations.
She says 77 years of history.
Since imperial Japan surrendered
and accepted a pacifist
constitution is at a watershed.
>> In Japan, you have a certain
amount of public hesitancy to
invest in military power.
That has dissipated.
With the Japanese are
recognizing is the need to be
ready in case they have to
fight.
Nick: Japan says North Korea's
missile and nuclear program
present a more graven imminent
threat than ever before.
Russia's invasion of Ukraine
shakes the very foundation of
international order.
And China's threats of military
expansion pose Japan's greatest
strategic challenge.
>> The behavior of China has
made many Japanese feel like
they are behind the eight ball,
so to speak, and the need to be
part of a coalition response to
that more assertive China.
Nick: So, the Japanese prime
minister launched a western
tour, including signing
Japan's first agreement with the
European country, culminating at
the white house today.
President Biden said the two
countries have never been closer
and praise to Japan's shifts on
defense.
>> This new policy was set forth
by Japan and I believe will be
beneficial for the deterrence
and response capabilities of the
alliance.
Nick: And the U.S. Is expanding
its commitments.
The U.S. Promises any attack in
space would trigger an mutual
defense provision.
They will increase training on
Japan's southwest violence,
some of which are 100 miles from
Taiwan's capital.
The Marines will repurpose their
presence in Japan into what they
call a regiment.
It is designed to be more
mobile, better conducting
reconnaissance, and fight from
remote islands.
They will be equipped with
antiship and antiaircraft
missiles.
The Marines portray themselves
as the best of the best, capable
of responding quickly
anywhere on the planet.
Including for the last 20 years
fighting land-based
counterinsurgencys.
To focus on China and maritime
campaigns, this is what a
current commander called a
revolution.
>> From the hill fights of
Vietnam to the global war on
terrorism, Marines have adapted
its mission, structure,
structure.
With threats evolving, it is
time to adapt again.
Nick: The goal is to upper
within what is known as the
first island chain inside the
area vulnerable to Chinese
missiles, as some other U.S.
Military weapons, such as ship
and aircraft, stay at a
distance.
The Korean core commandant -- T
he Marine Corps commandant.
>> You are their shoulder to
shoulder with the allies the
U.S. Has.
You are not leaving them.
Nick: This week, secretary of
defense Lloyd Austin offered his
most public support.
>> These actions will both are
deterrence in the region and
allow us to defend Japan and its
people more effectively.
Nick: A senior administration
official told me the Marines'
moves represents a significant
posture change and Japan's
agreeing to the change reflects
a major development in the
alliance.
For more on the Marine Corps
plan, we turn to retired
lieutenant general Paul van
riper.
Welcome to the program.
We spoke to a half-dozen three
and four star retired marine
generals like yourself who voice
concerns about the Marines'
plans.
You have been public in your
criticism.
What is your worries about the
vulnerability, sustainability
and access for these Marines
being deployed?
Lt. Gen. Van riper: The Marines
have always been an offensive
organization.
The few times we have been on
defense, it is not gone well.
In the second World War, the
Marines had a defense battalion.
They were not able to resupply
to provide any support.
Of course, the island fell with
tremendous casualties.
What we are talking about now is
putting Marines on islands in
the first island chain on the
western pacific.
There is no ability
logistically, and even the
Marine Corps would admit this
now, to support them.
You would not be able to get
casualties out.
Nick: I spoke to the current
marine commanders on okinawa and
they acknowledge your concerns,
but they point out they don't
have to do everything
themselves.
That they will be supported by
the Navy and air force.
Will that be possible?
Lt. Gen. Van riper: No.
There have been articles written
where the numbers have been done
and it is over 900 metric tons a
day.
Even with the Marines and the
joint force, they cannot keep
them supplied.
Nick: Let's talk about the
overall strategy when it comes
to China.
Defense officials I speak to say
they support these changes
because they need the Marines
and the army to operate within
the first island chain, and make
Chinese targeting much more
complicated since the Chinese
are trying to keep the Navy and
air force out.
Doesn't that make sense?
Lt. Gen. Van riper: No.
The Marine Corps in their
initial documents said this
would be a low observable unit.
I have looked at all the
equipment.
There's not one item that has
any stealth or low observer
capabilities.
Now the Marine Corps is saying,
we will tell people where those
units are as the deterrent for
the Chinese.
Wh is it going to be?
No unit has stuff like
capabilities.
The Chinese will target these.
Nick: Marine leaders say they do
acknowledge some of the concerns
you are raising.
But if the Marines will play a
major part in what the defense
department calls the pacing
challenge, they would have to
make bold changes and they are
working to solve some of the
vulnerabilities.
What is your response?
Lt. Gen. Van riper: The
mistake is the vesting yourself
of current capabilities.
The Marines have gotten ri
den ocannon artillery,
squadrons.
Why would you cut these things?
We will have a vulnerability gap
of anywhere of eight to 10
years for an unproven
capability.
Nick: A senior administration
told me that the items that have
been cut are more relevant to
invading Afghanistan again
rather than taking on China,
which again, the defense
department identifies as the
future threat.
Lt. Gen. Van riper: All I can
say is look at Ukraine.
What do we need?
They are crying F
artillery.
Fixed-wing close support
aircraft.
They want helicopters.
Those are the kinds of things
the Marine Corps has cut or well
on the way of cutting.
The Marine Corps in the western
pacific would be a missile
force.
It would have no infantry on the
ground.
What people think of the marine
Corps will not exist.
They are rapidly cutting it.
Instead of being a force that is
able to deploy worldwide
contingencies will be sitting on
islands in the defense.
It is an untested concept.
We are actually making the
structure cuts, cutting the
weapons before we have this
capability that I don't think
even exists.
Nick: Was there a way for the
Marines to become more relevant
to fight in the pacific without
losing the global response
capacity?
Lt. Gen. Van riper: What the
Marine Corps has always done,
that has been a global response
force.
It has been able to respond
globally because it has
amphibious ships, it was on
scene.
All of those capabilities are
being cut for a promise in the
future that those of us who are
resisting this or arguing
against it don't think it will
come to fruition.
Nick: General, thank you very
much.
Lt. Gen. Van riper: Appreciate