US Secretary of Defence Mark Esper said on Wednesday that the United States wanted to invest in more bases in the Asia-Pacific. Photo: AP
US Secretary of Defence Mark Esper said on Wednesday that the United States wanted to invest in more bases in the Asia-Pacific. Photo: AP

New US military bases in Asia-Pacific ‘likely to be temporary’ for troop flexibility

  • Former adviser to US Indo-Pacific Command chief says Pentagon wants locations that aren’t permanent to allow forces to be rotated as needed
  • But analysts say nature of stations won’t deter Beijing from using ‘coercive diplomacy’ on host countries

US Secretary of Defence Mark Esper said on Wednesday that the United States wanted to invest in more bases in the Asia-Pacific. Photo: AP
US Secretary of Defence Mark Esper said on Wednesday that the United States wanted to invest in more bases in the Asia-Pacific. Photo: AP
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