US military's logistics drill aims to prepare for East Asia crisis response

PHOTO CAPTION: Illustrative photo — U.S. Marines are seen during a live-fire deck shoot aboard the amphibious assault ship USS Boxer (LHD 4) in the Pacific Ocean, Aug. 2, 2024. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Joseph Helms via U.S. Defense Visual Information Distribution Service)

TAIPEI  -  Drills in East Asia this summer by the U.S. military body charged with moving munitions and equipment will help it better coordinate and communicate with allies in response to a crisis, its commander said on Friday.

Alarmed by growing Chinese assertiveness, whether in the disputed South China Sea or around Chinese-claimed Taiwan, Washington and its friends in the region have been drilling together regularly.

The U.S. Transportation Command, or TRANSCOM, is responsible not only for coordinating the pre-positioning of weapons and other equipment around the world by land, air and sea, but also for resupply in the event of conflict.

On a visit to East Asia, TRASNCOM Commander Randall Reed, told reporters it was essential to maintain and expand ties in the region so as to ensure a swift U.S. response to disasters and counter threats to peace and security.

"We're going to have a series of exercises and will test the current logistics architecture and infrastructure which provides sustained freedom of manoeuvre," he said on a teleconference, without giving further details of location or timing.  

"We're seeking to demonstrate our ability to rapidly mobilise, then deploy forces from within the United States to locations throughout the region here," Reed added, describing the aim of one exercise, Mobility Guardian. 

The tasks will permit testing of tactics, techniques and procedures with allies and partners and enhance connectivity, he said.

"It will help us deepen relationships and work together even more closely than we already are to bolster regional security."

On his trip, Reed has visited Japan and the Philippines and will go to South Korea, all treaty allies of the United States.

The militaries of the Philippines and the United States have sailed together in the South China Sea for a seventh time to boost interoperability between the two sides, Manila's armed forces said on Thursday.    

 (Reporting by Ben Blanchard; Editing by Clarence Fernandez // REUTERS)