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Number of US Marines in Japan to be temporarily reduced

PLA Daily 2004-02-02

TOKYO, Jan. 31 (Xinhuanet) -- The number of US Marines in Okinawa,south Japan, may be kept at 14,000 for a prolonged period, as about 3,000 troops who are to leave for Iraq may not return to the island prefecture, Kyodo News reported Saturday.

The number of US Marines in Okinawa is currently at about 17,000. The U.S. Defense Department has already said it has no plan to send replacements to Okinawa after 3,000 Marines leave there for a seven-month mission in Iraq.

They will be sent in batches to Iraq from February through April.

One of the options the Pentagon is now considering is to send the 3,000 troops back to their original US bases or move them to other overseas bases after their mission in Iraq ends, Kyodo said.

If that step is taken, the number of Marines in Okinawa would be 14,000 for the time being, although it is uncertain how long the situation will continue.

According to Kyodo, a temporary reduction in Marines in Okinawawould be possible, indicating that the US military is facing personnel shortages due to the deployment of a large number of forces in Iraq and Afghanistan.