(Manila, 8th) The Philippines has activated a new military base in the Luzon Strait. Analysts point out that this move may improve Manila's ability to monitor the Luzon Strait, but could also further entangle Manila in possible future conflicts between mainland China and Taiwan.
The Philippine Star reported that the frontline operational base, named Mahatao, is located on Batan Island, only 193 kilometers from Taiwan. This is the largest military investment made by the Armed Forces of the Philippines in the strategically significant Batanes Islands.
Although this base has little immediate impact on the maritime activities of mainland China in the Luzon Strait, analysts believe it signals Manila’s intent to deter Beijing through military construction, rather than relying on neutrality to keep Manila out of a possible future Taiwan Strait conflict.
In an interview with local media during his visit to India in early August, Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. pointed out that since the Philippines is adjacent to Taiwan and with 200,000 Filipinos working in Taiwan, the Philippines cannot remain aloof if a conflict breaks out in the Taiwan Strait.
Former Philippine Navy Deputy Commander Rommel Ong said: "We've always shied away from facing reality, thinking China would be magnanimous and not drag us into a future conflict... But if Beijing truly intends to attack Taiwan, they would have to control the Bashi Channel, which would require first occupying the major strategically located islands of the Batanes."
The Luzon Strait consists of the Bashi Channel, the Balintang Channel, and the Babuyan Channel. The Philippine military will deploy the navy at the Mahatao base, tasked with monitoring the Luzon Strait and guarding the Batanes.
During the base inauguration ceremony at the end of August, Northern Luzon Command Commander Buca said the base strengthens the ability to defend the northern front, ensuring the Philippines can quickly respond to security and disaster challenges.
However, experts believe the Mahatao base's immediate military role is limited. Rommel Ong said the base would not affect the deployment of Chinese military and militia vessels in the Luzon or Balintang Channels; its main value lies in surveillance operations.
The Batanes have remained relatively calm for many years; the military's recent establishment of a frontline base here signals a deteriorating security environment around Taiwan.
XU Rui-lin, a research fellow at Nanyang Technological University's S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies in Singapore, observed that with the Taiwan Strait situation heating up and Beijing asserting sovereignty and coercion in the West Philippine Sea, the activation of a new base is a bold move by the Philippines.
Chinese maritime activities in the Luzon Strait have increased significantly recently. In August, a Philippine Coast Guard patrol aircraft spotted three Chinese Coast Guard vessels near the waters around Batanes. Maritime security experts pointed out this was the first time Chinese vessels had appeared in the waters near the Philippines' northernmost islands.
XU Rui-lin predicts that in the foreseeable future, the Chinese navy will appear more frequently in the waters of the Batanes. Rommel Ong said: "For the Philippines, the best long-term solution is to deter China now by strengthening our defense and disrupting their current plans, to deter them."
The Philippine Star reported that the frontline operational base, named Mahatao, is located on Batan Island, only 193 kilometers from Taiwan. This is the largest military investment made by the Armed Forces of the Philippines in the strategically significant Batanes Islands.
Although this base has little immediate impact on the maritime activities of mainland China in the Luzon Strait, analysts believe it signals Manila’s intent to deter Beijing through military construction, rather than relying on neutrality to keep Manila out of a possible future Taiwan Strait conflict.
In an interview with local media during his visit to India in early August, Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. pointed out that since the Philippines is adjacent to Taiwan and with 200,000 Filipinos working in Taiwan, the Philippines cannot remain aloof if a conflict breaks out in the Taiwan Strait.
Former Philippine Navy Deputy Commander Rommel Ong said: "We've always shied away from facing reality, thinking China would be magnanimous and not drag us into a future conflict... But if Beijing truly intends to attack Taiwan, they would have to control the Bashi Channel, which would require first occupying the major strategically located islands of the Batanes."
The Luzon Strait consists of the Bashi Channel, the Balintang Channel, and the Babuyan Channel. The Philippine military will deploy the navy at the Mahatao base, tasked with monitoring the Luzon Strait and guarding the Batanes.
During the base inauguration ceremony at the end of August, Northern Luzon Command Commander Buca said the base strengthens the ability to defend the northern front, ensuring the Philippines can quickly respond to security and disaster challenges.
However, experts believe the Mahatao base's immediate military role is limited. Rommel Ong said the base would not affect the deployment of Chinese military and militia vessels in the Luzon or Balintang Channels; its main value lies in surveillance operations.
The Batanes have remained relatively calm for many years; the military's recent establishment of a frontline base here signals a deteriorating security environment around Taiwan.
XU Rui-lin, a research fellow at Nanyang Technological University's S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies in Singapore, observed that with the Taiwan Strait situation heating up and Beijing asserting sovereignty and coercion in the West Philippine Sea, the activation of a new base is a bold move by the Philippines.
Chinese maritime activities in the Luzon Strait have increased significantly recently. In August, a Philippine Coast Guard patrol aircraft spotted three Chinese Coast Guard vessels near the waters around Batanes. Maritime security experts pointed out this was the first time Chinese vessels had appeared in the waters near the Philippines' northernmost islands.
XU Rui-lin predicts that in the foreseeable future, the Chinese navy will appear more frequently in the waters of the Batanes. Rommel Ong said: "For the Philippines, the best long-term solution is to deter China now by strengthening our defense and disrupting their current plans, to deter them."