US military prepares for next century

* Leidig: Military’s Pacific moves not due to China

* Also a contingency in fight vs global terrorism

The U.S. military’s reshaping of its forces in the western Pacific is aimed at preparing for the “needs of the nation” in the next century and not because of concerns about China’s increasing military buildup in the region, according to Rear Admiral Charles J. Leidig Jr., commander of the Naval Forces Marianas.

Leidig explained that the reshaping of the U.S. military forces in the western Pacific is not directed at any specific threat.

“We are working to shape up forces so that we are properly positioned for the needs of our country in the next century,” Leidig told the media shortly after the Memorial Day ceremony at the Susupe Veterans Memorial Park in Susupe.

The commander agreed that the move is also part of future contingency plans of the U.S. fight against global terrorism.

“What is important is if you look where U.S. forces are largely positioned today in the western Pacific, they’re still in the same place that we were at the end of World War II,” he said.

“They’re still primarily in Japan, in Korea, and Okinawa. So what we have been doing is re-fostering our forces to make sure that they’re properly positioned for the next century,” Leidig pointed out.

According to a Pentagon report, the Chinese military is investing in cruise missiles, precision weapons and guidance systems that could target ships, submarines, aircraft and air bases as far away as the “second island chain” including the Northern Marianas and Guam.

Leidig also disclosed that he and U.S. Pacific Command Deputy Commander Lt. Gen. Daniel Leaf are planning to visit Saipan in July or August for a meeting with Gov. Benigno R. Fitial on plans for the future of the CNMI.

“We’re truly trying to get the CNMI on its schedule,” he said.

Leidig said that there will be more military ship visits in the CNMI in June while a U.S. destroyer ship will be on the island for the July 4 Liberation Day event.

With respect to the planned training exercises on Tinian by the U.S. Marine troops from Okinawa, Japan, he clarified that the kind of facilities they need or what they may look like still has to be decided.

“Right now we know that we will have to do training on Tinian. We don’t know the types of facilities that we’ll need. …That’s something that needs to be decided and needs to be discussed with the governor and local officials,” he said.

Fitial earlier disclosed that Leaf had stated that facilities will be constructed on Tinian to support the military training exercises.

Fitial said the coming of the military officers will not only have economic impact but also environmental impact as well.

The presence of the troops, the governor said, would have a very significant economic impact to the CNMI because those troops training will definitely produce revenues not only to Tinian but also Saipan where they are expected to visit.

Fitial said Leidig informed him that by middle part of June this year they would have more detailed plans about such training.