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| Thursday, 19 August 2004 |
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US military commitment to Asia to become smaller but deadlier MANILA, Wednesday (AFP) The United States military commitment to Asia is undergoing a profound change which will have a direct impact on the security of the entire region, analysts and diplomats say. In the coming years tens of thousands of US troops will be withdrawn from Europe and Asia as part of the biggest realignment of US military might since the end of the Korean War 51 years ago. The reduced troop numbers will make US military power in the region smaller but deadlier, relying on rapid deployment and sophisticated air and naval power, analysts say. Renato de Castro, who teaches international studies at Manila's De La Salle University, said: "The days of big armies are over. "US thinking today is less on massive troop deployment but rather on extending its military clout via the forward basing of air and sea power and logistics facilities for the rapid deployment of small numbers of highly trained troops. "The new thinking will rely heavily on strong alliances with allies, access to facilities and training." The United States has yet to reveal full details of its realignment of troops in Asia, although it has announced plans to reduce the 37,500-strong force in South Korea by a third. It is thought 47,000 US troops will remain at bases in Japan. De Castro said the new US strategy calls for what US defence planners call 'Lily Pads' or 'Warm Bases' - small lightly-staffed facilities which can be used as jumping-off points in a crisis. These facilities will be linked to a few large, strategically located, heavy infrastructure bases likely to be in Japan, Australia and Singapore. |
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