In response to recent geopolitical developments, the Philippines has established a coastguard station in its northern islands near Taiwan , enhancing its capability to monitor an area where China has bolstered its military presence, according to National Security Adviser Eduardo Ano. The newly constructed station, situated less than 200 km (125 miles) from Taiwan, an island claimed by China, is poised to enhance Manila’s surveillance of the Luzon Strait, a crucial international waterway located south of Taiwan. Ano highlighted that the vicinity around the town of Itbayat in the Philippines’ Batanes islands witnessed a military buildup in 2022 following “political developments” between Taiwan and the U.S., Taiwan’s principal foreign supporter. Eduardo Ano emphasized that observers observed China’s naval response in the Luzon Strait, a strategic passage utilized by numerous vessels navigating between the Philippine Sea and the contested South China Sea.
Ano stressed the significance of “securing peace, stability, and freedom of navigation along the Luzon Strait,” noting the frequent presence of Chinese survey ships in the area. He also underscored that the new station would empower the Philippines Coast Guard (PCG) to address foreign threats and maritime crimes, including illicit trade, trafficking, piracy, and foreign encroachments. Furthermore, Ano pointed out that Itbayat hosted joint military exercises involving the Philippines and the U.S. from April 22 to May 10, with over 16,000 troops from both nations participating.
In a significant move in 2023, the Philippines nearly doubled the number of military bases accessible to U.S. forces, including three facing Taiwan. China has criticized these actions as exacerbating regional tensions. Notably, in waters east of Taiwan, China conducted simulated missile strikes and dispatched bombers armed with live missiles in its two-day military exercises targeting Taiwan’s new president, Lai Ching-te, whom Beijing has labeled a “separatist.”
