To strengthen the country’s territorial defense, Filipino Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro directed the military to increase the number of troops stationed at the northernmost island, specifically the remote Batanes Island. During his recent visit to the naval installations, he also called for the development of more infrastructure on the island.
But here is a catch: the Batanes Islands are located just 200 kilometers (125 miles) from Taiwan, a self-ruled island state that China considers its renegade province and wants to occupy. The announcement made by the Filipino Defense Secretary comes at a time when China and the Philippines have been locking horns in the South China Sea.
The long-standing territorial disputes between the two countries have triggered confrontations between their Coast Guard Ships, with fears of a potential Chinese invasion of the Second Thomas Shoal looming large over Manila.
Chinese vessels regularly attempt to prevent Filipino vessels from replenishing their troops aboard the Sierra Madre warship, which was deliberately run aground several years ago and functions as a temporary Filipino outpost at the disputed shoal.
After several months of confrontation at sea and bombast by Chinese authorities, the Philippines is looking to bolster its military capability and strengthen its territorial defenses.
The decision to boost troops and expand infrastructure at Batanes Islands seems to be a part of that ambitious strategy. The Bashi Channel, which runs between Batanes and Taiwan, is a crucial choke point for ships traveling between the western Pacific and the disputed South China Sea and is likely to be used by China in case of hostilities.