US to deploy ‘missile wall’ in Pacific to checkmate China in 2024; Japan most likely host

The United States of America (USA) is all set to mount a “missile wall” in the Pacific Ocean, based largely out of Islands in Japan, Taiwan and Philippines in 2024 to counteract an ever-aggressive China.

According to a report in Asia Times, General Charles Flynn, Commander of US Army Forces Pacific, said the US would deploy new intermediate-range missiles including Tomahawks and SM-6s to the Pacific region in 2024.

He was speaking at stated at the Halifax International Security Forum in Nova Scotia.

General Flynn pivoted the decision on China’s rapidly growing military capabilities and its aggressive and belligerent stance that was tipping the regional and global geopolitical equilibrium.

The US move has been enabled by the fact that it withdrew from the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty in 2019 in reaction to Russia’s intransigent non-compliance to the pact.

Most Pacific allies wary, Japan likely host

According to Asia Times, Thailand was trying hard to keep China placated. Moreover, China has already harassed Philippines and the latter may not want to escalate things since it is vulnerable to a blockade by China. Also, the country has sub-par military capabilities.

Australia has so far not been very keen to get into the US-China muddle, while South Korea, as cited by Asia Times, may want to keep China’s big market to bargain with North Korea.

Japan, on the other hand, is the most suitable hosting place for the “missile wall” since it has taken on China unequivocally and has also started beefing and boosting its own defences and military strength, including missiles, by almost doubling the defence budget.

Japan has made no secrets about its intentions that the move it specifically to counteract China.