The official website of China’s Ministry of National Defense recently announced that, at the invitation of the Brazilian Army, China will soon send a contingent of the People’s Liberation Army Marine Corps to Brazil to participate in the multinational joint exercise “Operation Formosa-2024.”
The theme of this exercise is “Joint Landing and Anti-Landing Combat Drills,” aimed at deepening the friendship and cooperation between the Chinese military and the participating countries, and enhancing their ability to jointly respond to security risks and challenges.
It is speculated that the Chinese Marine Corps contingent participating in the exercise may be a fully staffed company or battalion-level unit, possibly including artillery and air defense forces.
Notably, this is a rare occasion where the Chinese military is sending an organized marine unit to Brazil, located in South America, which carries significant implications.
From a tactical perspective, as the largest country in South America, Brazil has a long coastline and specific coastal defense needs, particularly in the critical area of anti-landing operations.
In terms of amphibious landing and anti-landing combat, the Chinese Marine Corps is undoubtedly one of the world’s leading “expert players.”
After all, China is one of the few countries with a clear “potential large-scale amphibious landing operation requirement.” From equipment development to personnel training and the exploration and evolution of military doctrines, all have been approached from a practical combat perspective, resulting in the establishment of a Marine Corps with formidable comprehensive combat capabilities, supported by a targeted naval amphibious landing fleet.
According to insiders, at China’s suggestion, Brazil invited the U.S. military to participate in a live-fire military exercise in Brazil, focused on cross-sea anti-landing operations, and the U.S. agreed to join.
Since this is a live-fire exercise, anything could happen. A real face-off between China and the U.S. in Brazil would provide a chance for both sides to gauge each other’s true strength, potentially preventing future conflict. The outcome might even shape the direction of global affairs.
The same insider revealed that China has limited the scale of its participating forces to no more than a brigade, likely at the battalion level. If a composite battalion were to be deployed, its equipment and capabilities would be enough to give the U.S. forces a serious challenge.