U.S., Japan, and Taiwan Send Thousands of Troops to Help Manila fight China in South China Sea

Retired Philippine rear admiral Aommel Judong said taiwan is at the core of the first island chain, making its participation in joint military exercises with japan and the Philippines not an option but a necessity. Meanwhile Ong said the security of Taiwan, Japan, and the Philippines is inextricably linked and that it will be impossible to resist china's continued expansion into the waters that lie between them unless the three join hands and work together.

 

Ong said he doubts the u.s could single-handedly resist china's expansion. Therefore countries in the region must join together to ensure the integrity of the single island chain. The retired admiral called on Taiwan, Japan and the philippines to establish mechanisms for joint maritime military cooperation that could facilitate an integrated strategy. 

 

He said the Bashi Strait is the most critical area for the philippines whereas the waters around the Diaoyu Tai Senkaku islands are vital for Japan. Taiwan is the central link that holds the first island chain together thus its participation in joint exercises is of the utmost importance, he said.

 

Wang Chun Yan a ccholar at Taiwan's Institute for National Defence and Security Research Academy pointed out that Japan and the Philippines have held joint military and naval exercises in the past. He said he agrees maintaining a high level of connectivity with the other two countries security sectors is of great importance to taiwan and that it is also conducive to the stability of Japan and the Philippines.

 

Philippine defense secretary Delfin Lorenzana has promised that manila will ignore china's amended maritime law, which now requires foreign vessels sailing in the south china sea to report their information to chinese authorities. Lorenzana made the statement as he continues his visit to the united states to press for a review of the MDT and to lobby for more advanced military equipment for the philippines in the face of chinese territorial threat.

 

China which claims historical rights over most of the areas in the south china sea amended its maritime traffic safety law in recent months. It took effect on september 1st. The law requires all foreign vessels sailing in the south china sea to report their information to chinese authorities. But the u.s calls it a serious threat and a foreign policy expert has described it as an attempt by china to force other countries to submit to its control by reporting their ships to chinese authorities.

 

In january, China also passed the coast guard law that for the first time explicitly allows its coast guard to fire on foreign vessels within their jurisdiction. Amid concerns over china's growing dominance in the south china sea, the philippines a longtime ally of the U.S wants washington to increase its military commitments.

 

He said there is a need to upgrade and update the alliance and to make clear the extent of american commitments. Lorenzana said S.U Philippines relations would have to evolve in recognition of new geopolitical realities most especially the rise of China.

For Washington, having the ability to rotate troops through the VFA is important not only for the defense of the philippines but also strategically when it comes to countering china in the region.