U.S. Marines set up littoral unit in Okinawa for islands defense

The U.S. Marines set up Wednesday a littoral regiment in Okinawa capable of a flexible and rapid response to bolster the defense of remote islands in southwestern Japan amid China's increased military assertiveness at sea.The existing 12th Marine Regiment based in the southern prefecture of Okinawa was reorganized into the 12th Marine Littoral Regiment, or MLR."We're proud to be here in the First Island Chain, and a force prepared to respond to contingencies wherever and whenever required," said Col. Peter Eltringham, commanding officer of the new regiment, at a ceremony at Camp Hansen in O…READ FULL ARTICLE