Ex-Trump security adviser backtracks on proposal to send all Marines to Asia

Robert O'Brien explains his outline to sever US-China economic ties would only be to send in fighting force'

Donald Trump's former national security adviser Robert O'Brien - tipped to play a leading role if the ex-president returns to the White House - backtracked on parts of his proposal to sever US-China economic ties, an aspect of which called for sending the entire US Marine Corps to Asia.

O'Brien, who recently submitted a 5,000-word article outlining his thinking to Foreign Affairs, explained on Sunday that instead of the entire US Marine Corps", it would be only the fighting force". And he said some Marines would still be stationed at bases like California's Camp Pendleton and North Carolina's Camp Lejeune.