The Philippines Boosts Coastguard Presence Near Taiwan Amid China’s Military Build-up
In a strategic move to enhance its monitoring capabilities in the face of China’s military presence, the Philippines has constructed a new coastguard station in its northern islands near Taiwan. National Security Adviser Eduardo Ano announced the development on Friday, highlighting the station’s proximity to Taiwan, a territory claimed by China.
The new station, located less than 200 km from Taiwan, will bolster Manila’s ability to monitor the Luzon Strait, a crucial international waterway south of the democratic island. Ano noted that the area around the town of Itbayat in the Batanes islands witnessed a military build-up in 2022 following “political developments” between Taiwan and the U.S., prompting China’s naval response in the Luzon Strait.
The Luzon Strait serves as a transit zone for vessels navigating between the Philippine Sea and the contested South China Sea, making it imperative to ensure peace, stability, and freedom of navigation in the region. The Philippines Coast Guard (PCG) stationed at Itbayat will now be better equipped to combat foreign threats and crimes at sea, including illicit trade, trafficking, piracy, and foreign intrusions.
The move comes amidst escalating tensions in the region, with China conducting mock missile strikes and dispatching bombers carrying live missiles in two-day drills near Taiwan. Beijing’s state CCTV reported that the exercises were aimed at punishing Taiwan’s new president, Lai Ching-te, whom China has labeled a “separatist.”
As the Philippines strengthens its maritime capabilities, the region remains on edge, with Taiwan’s armed forces closely monitoring and shadowing Chinese activities. The geopolitical dynamics in the area continue to evolve, with implications for regional security and stability.