Marine Corps works to build new ties in Southeast Asia
By Joshua Stewart, Staff writer 7:21 p.m. EDT April 1, 2015
The Marine Corps is trying to build a better relationship with Malaysia, which could pave the way for Marines to partner with other countries in Asia-Pacific region.
Infantrymen and aviators from the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit recently demonstrated air and ground combat capabilities in a rare appearance before Malaysian military and government officials. Marines don't operate with Malaysian forces as much as they do with other militaries in Southeast Asia, namely Philippine and Thai troops.
Working with the Malaysians is a way of showing interest in teaming with other nations there, said Carl Baker, the director of programs at the Pacific Forum at the Center for Strategic and International Studies.
"I think that the United States has always had an interested in having a security relationship with other countries in Southeast Asia," he said.
Battalion Landing Team, 2nd Battalion, 4th Marines — the MEU's ground combat element — demonstrated a live-fire platoon vertical assault in Malaysia in late February, according to a Marine Corps news release. The event included fire-and-maneuver components with small arms, machine guns and mortar support.
The air combat element, including aviators from Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 262 (Reinforced), showed off its MV-22B Osprey tiltrotor aircraft and UH-1Y Venom helicopters and close air support capabilities with live machine gun and rocket fire, according to the release.
Officials with the 31st MEU and Marine Corps Forces Pacific did not respond to several questions submitted by Marine Corps Times about the demonstration.
The news release states that the amphibious air-ground demonstration could "pave the way for future exercises in Malaysia."
Retired Col. Grant Newsham, the senior fellow at Japan Forum for Strategic Studies, said Malaysian troops benefited from the Corps' demonstration because the country is interested in developing its own "Marine-like" military capability, but so far has only made "modest progress."
Malaysian Defense Minister Hishammuddin Hussein has proposed that the Association of Southeast Asian Nations create a ready group that focuses on humanitarian assistance and disaster response capabilities, he said.
"This is only an idea at this point — and faces long odds," Newsham said. "But it is interesting that he mentioned it, and it is also a good idea."
Working with countries like Malaysia and Australia will boost multinational capabilities in the region as the U.S. military shifts its focus to the Asia-Pacific region, Baker said.
Malaysia sits on the southern border of the South China Sea, a body of water that's been the setting of a series of clashes between China and U.S. allies.
According to a 2014 report from the Heritage Foundation, there have been 16 notable instances of Chinese aggression in the South China Sea since March 2009. About five years ago, a Chinese ship pestered the U.S. oceanographic research ship Impeccable. Not long after, a Chinese submarine collided with the sonar cable of the destroyer John McCain. Other incidents involve clashes with Vietnamese and Philippine vessels.
Baker said he doesn't think the recent demonstration in Malaysia is an effort to influence China in that waterway, but rather another step in the U.S. military's rebalance to the Asia-Pacific region.
And Newsham said it's likely that Marines would be training in Malaysia even without China's recent actions since Malaysia is interested in developing its own amphibious force.
http://www.militarytimes.com/story/military/2015/04/01/marine-corps-malaysia-southeast-asia/70704498/
