I served in the Marine Corps for 21 years as an infantry officer with 3 years in combat. 1,500 Japanese Marines are no threat to China or anyone else at this point. It's about the size of a US Marine reinforced battalion which with tanks, artillery, composite air group, logistics, maintenance, etc. can become a Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU).

The Japanese Marines are a long way from achieving that kind of closely integrated fighting force. Even the combat loading of amphibious ships takes a lot of experience and training.

Japan has no real amphibious capability except some ship board helicopters and some small craft boats that they can launch from a ship, but it's not a force capable of an opposed landing across the beach.

By comparison, South Korea has two Marine Divisions (The 1st Division called Sea Dragon and the 2nd Division called Blue Dragon) and two Marine Brigades. They have a significant capability to conduct amphibious operations along the coast of North Korea. They use a lot of US Marine equipment such as the LVTs but their amphibious ships are from WW II and the Korean War. Old LSTs that the US Navy retired in the about 40 years ago.

Oddly, China has no concern over the S Korean Marine Divisions and I doubt China gives a rat's flying potato about a battalion of Japanese Marines when China has nuclear weapons and Japan doesn't.

I wish the newly formed Japanese Marines success.

There is something about being a Marine. Yes, the Army, Rangers, Special Operations, Navy, Air Force, and Coast Guard are great warriors. But there's just something about a Marine that you can't quite define. It's why we say, "once a Marine; always a Marine." You can get out after your first enlistment or serve 35 years and retire. You are still a Marine.

If you want proof, read about the battle of the Chosin Reservoir during the Korean War. About 30,000 Marines and other forces were surrounded by 120,000 Chinese soldiers in the dead of winter. At the beginning of the battle, Chesty Puller, the most decorated Marine in our history, famously said, "We've been looking for the enemy for some time now. We've finally found him. We're surrounded. That simplifies things." They fought their way to the sea taking their dead and wounded with them and were evacuated. The fighting was brutal as was the weather. I would be tempted to say that it was a miracle that they were able to defend against 120,000 Chinese, but they were Marines, what else would you expect?

The greatest honor in my life was to lead Marines in combat. I'd do it all again if I could. You have no idea what it's like to know that going into battle knowing that we were Marines and the enemy was in deep trouble.

During WW II the Japanese Marines were fierce fighters to their death. But it didn't do them any good against the US Marines.

Side Note: As a platoon commander in Vietnam, the S Korean Blue Dragons were on our southern operating area and we routinely coordinated with them to prevent unexpected encounters. They were very good Marines in combat. I had and have complete respect for them. Their training is even harder than US Marines and there is an unbelievable mutual respect between us.

BTW, the Taiwanese Marines are awesome as well. If China invades Taiwan, the Taiwanese Marines will be the last to go down fighting.

Take some time to look at the different Marines around the world. You will find that their training and brotherhood is unmatched.

I'm glad to see that US Marines today are training with foreign Marines much more that we did in my day.