U.S. Marines Are Eyeing an Outpost Just 70 Miles from Taiwan

[rangerrebew]

U.S. Marines Are Eyeing an Outpost Just 70 Miles from Taiwan
Published on 21/11/2025
By Carter Johnston
In News
U.S. Marines Are Eyeing an Outpost Just 70 Miles from Taiwan
 
 
 
 
Over the past two months, the U.S. Marine Corps have been shuttling equipment to and from Kubura Port on Yonaguni Island, one of Japan’s farthest outlying islands just 70 miles from Taiwan. The back-and-forth shipments of medical supplies and disaster response equipment comes at an increasing pace as the Corps aims to make Yonaguni Island a focal point in its First Island Chain strategy.

Barge shipments to Yonaguni Island this year began as an initial operational capability proof-of-concept for the 12th Littoral Logistics Battalion which deployed field training equipment to the island in support of missions tied to Resolute Dragon 2025. According to III MEF officials, the initial exercises included combat casualty evacuation and first aid, which were key elements of Resolute Dragon in Japan’s southwest islands.

The Resolute Dragon 2025 deployment included shipping containers, refrigeration equipment, and water. The supplies were offloaded to the island and shipped to the Japan Self Defense Force’s Camp Yonaguni located on the island. Over the course of two days, the Corps offloaded eighteen 20-foot ISO containers, two water SIXCONs, and a 40-foot refrigeration containers between September 15-16. The offloaded containers returned to Naha Military Port by September 19.

Yonaguni Island
The FARP was ferried by air to Yonaguni Island from Okinawa. The island’s location and infrastructure is a critical part of its importance given positioning near Taiwan with pre-existing ports and runways.
A trial deployment using the Marine Corp’s Autonomous Low Profile Vessel (ALPV) was planned at Kubura Port in Yonaguni during Resolute Dragon 2025, but was cancelled due to changes in planning. Naval News covered the ALPV’s alternate mission set last month during Resolute Dragon 2025.

https://www.navalnews.com/naval-news/2025/11/u-s-marines-are-eyeing-an-outpost-just-70-miles-from-taiwan/

[Kamaji]

Given the recent release of hacked documents from Russia indicating that Russia is providing China with materiel and training to prepare for an airborne assault on Taiwan which is tentatively scheduled for 2027, this is a case of “better late than never”.   

[BobfromWB]

Given the recent release of hacked documents from Russia indicating that Russia is providing China with materiel and training to prepare for an airborne assault on Taiwan which is tentatively scheduled for 2027, this is a case of “better late than never”.

China will never do that - too many casualties. The CCP is risk-adverse and cannot withstand an enraged public - if they thought the public's response to the CCP's draconian mandates was challenging - this would be tantamount to revolt.

There is no safety net to speak of in China - each son lost in combat means one family will lose their income and become impoverished and even starve to death. Multiplied by thousands a week and the CCP will be destroyed.

AI claim:
A full-scale Chinese invasion of Taiwan would result in massive casualties for China, with estimates suggesting tens of thousands of military personnel could be killed or lost. According to a 2023 war game simulation by the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), China would suffer approximately 7,000 ground casualties, with roughly a third assumed killed, and an additional 15,000 soldiers lost at sea, half of whom would be killed.

The report also estimates China would lose 155 combat aircraft and 138 major ships in the base scenario. Other analyses, including a report from the Henry Jackson Society, warn that a conflict could result in as many as 500,000 deaths, though this figure includes civilian and regional casualties. Experts argue that even a successful invasion would lead to significant reputational, economic, and political costs for China, potentially outweighing any strategic gains.

China would suffer around 7,000 ground casualties in a war game simulation, with roughly 2,300 assumed killed.

An estimated 15,000 Chinese soldiers would be lost at sea, with half assumed killed.

The CSIS simulation projected China would lose 155 combat aircraft and 138 major ships.

A separate report from the Henry Jackson Society estimated up to 500,000 people could die in a conflict, though this includes broader regional and civilian casualties.

Experts note that even a successful invasion would carry severe long-term consequences for China’s global standing and domestic stability.

[Kamaji]

China will never do that - too many casualties. The CCP is risk-adverse and cannot withstand an enraged public - if they thought the public's response to the CCP's draconian mandates was challenging - this would be tantamount to revolt.

There is no safety net to speak of in China - each son lost in combat means one family will lose their income and become impoverished and even starve to death. Multiplied by thousands a week and the CCP will be destroyed.

AI claim:
A full-scale Chinese invasion of Taiwan would result in massive casualties for China, with estimates suggesting tens of thousands of military personnel could be killed or lost. According to a 2023 war game simulation by the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), China would suffer approximately 7,000 ground casualties, with roughly a third assumed killed, and an additional 15,000 soldiers lost at sea, half of whom would be killed.

The report also estimates China would lose 155 combat aircraft and 138 major ships in the base scenario. Other analyses, including a report from the Henry Jackson Society, warn that a conflict could result in as many as 500,000 deaths, though this figure includes civilian and regional casualties. Experts argue that even a successful invasion would lead to significant reputational, economic, and political costs for China, potentially outweighing any strategic gains.

China would suffer around 7,000 ground casualties in a war game simulation, with roughly 2,300 assumed killed.

An estimated 15,000 Chinese soldiers would be lost at sea, with half assumed killed.

The CSIS simulation projected China would lose 155 combat aircraft and 138 major ships.

A separate report from the Henry Jackson Society estimated up to 500,000 people could die in a conflict, though this includes broader regional and civilian casualties.

Experts note that even a successful invasion would carry severe long-term consequences for China’s global standing and domestic stability.

Maybe so; however, that does not change the fact that Russia is assisting China with developing capabilities that would be useful in invading Taiwan.

[IsailedawayfromFR]

China will never do that - too many casualties. The CCP is risk-adverse and cannot withstand an enraged public - if they thought the public's response to the CCP's draconian mandates was challenging - this would be tantamount to revolt.

There is no safety net to speak of in China - each son lost in combat means one family will lose their income and become impoverished and even starve to death. Multiplied by thousands a week and the CCP will be destroyed.

AI claim:
A full-scale Chinese invasion of Taiwan would result in massive casualties for China, with estimates suggesting tens of thousands of military personnel could be killed or lost. According to a 2023 war game simulation by the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), China would suffer approximately 7,000 ground casualties, with roughly a third assumed killed, and an additional 15,000 soldiers lost at sea, half of whom would be killed.

The report also estimates China would lose 155 combat aircraft and 138 major ships in the base scenario. Other analyses, including a report from the Henry Jackson Society, warn that a conflict could result in as many as 500,000 deaths, though this figure includes civilian and regional casualties. Experts argue that even a successful invasion would lead to significant reputational, economic, and political costs for China, potentially outweighing any strategic gains.

China would suffer around 7,000 ground casualties in a war game simulation, with roughly 2,300 assumed killed.

An estimated 15,000 Chinese soldiers would be lost at sea, with half assumed killed.

The CSIS simulation projected China would lose 155 combat aircraft and 138 major ships.

A separate report from the Henry Jackson Society estimated up to 500,000 people could die in a conflict, though this includes broader regional and civilian casualties.

Experts note that even a successful invasion would carry severe long-term consequences for China’s global standing and domestic stability.

a couple of EMPS and some well-placed sabotage would cripple the island, coupled with a blockade that could accomplish what an invasion could.

And it is curious that China has not taken over that island so close to Taiwan

[BobfromWB]

Maybe so; however, that does not change the fact that Russia is assisting China with developing capabilities that would be useful in invading Taiwan.

Useful abilities do not guarantee a lower casualty count. The CCP simply cannot risk it.

[Kamaji]

Useful abilities do not guarantee a lower casualty count. The CCP simply cannot risk it.

It would appear that they have calculated otherwise.

[Idiot]

Useful abilities do not guarantee a lower casualty count. The CCP simply cannot risk it.

I don't think casualties mean anything to the Chinese...human life certainly doesn't.

[BobfromWB]

a couple of EMPS and some well-placed sabotage would cripple the island, coupled with a blockade that could accomplish what an invasion could.

And it is curious that China has not taken over that island so close to Taiwan

Any EMP bursts would effect the Chinese mainland as well. Not to mention bringing in Japan and the US - China prefers to spend billions on propaganda to convince Westerners of its invincibility and vaunted military where their rocket troopd use rocket fuel to heat their tea, and a PLAN assignment to their submarine force amounts to a death sentence [ they have lost quite a few subs ... ].

[BobfromWB]

It would appear that they have calculated otherwise.

It would appear that they are continuing to spend billions more to convince the West of their military prowess which was lost on the Vietnamese and the Indians - not to mention that China has suffered catastrophic defeats in every war they started. They have no recent combat experience. And none since they tried unsuccessfully for the second time to take the Amur region of Russia in the 60s.

Any advances on Taiwan will automatically bring in the Japanese - whose navy is projected to eliminate the PLAN in a few days - without any assistance from the US Navy. China's combat success against Japan is Zero.

[BobfromWB]

I don't think casualties mean anything to the Chinese...human life certainly doesn't.

Maybe not to Chinese as seen in Korea, but Mao is dead, and Xi is not a replacement. China's covid response was so draconian that they almost had a large scale revolt. Now with a projected 500,000 dead, plus another 1.5 million wounded & missing should they go through with it, the CCP will have an internal revolt, since they have no safety nets as Western countries do. The CCP will not risk that.

The number one rule of the CCP is preserve the CCP at any cost.