US military negotiates port development in the Philippines to fight Taiwan
MANILA (Reuters) – The U.S.military is in talks to develop a civilian port on the remote northern islands of the Philippines, the local governor and two other officials told Reuters, a move that would boost its capabilities.U.S.access to islands strategically located opposite Taiwan.
The US military’s involvement in the proposed port in the Batanes Islands, less than 200 kilometers (125 miles) from Taiwan, could cause tensions at a time of growing conflict with China and desirable Washington’s commitment to a permanent defense treaty with Taiwan.
Philippines.The Bashi Channel, between these islands and Taiwan, is considered a chokepoint for ships traveling between the Western Pacific Ocean and the disputed South China Sea, and an important waterway in the event of a Chinese invasion of Taiwan.Loan.Taiwan’s Defense Ministry said the Chinese military regularly sends ships and planes through the English Channel.
Marilou Cayco, governor of the Batanes Islands province, told Reuters in a message that she had asked the United States for funding to build an “alternative port” there, to facilitate unloading from the capital.Metro Manila.in rough seas during the monsoon season.
She said there are plans to build a port on Basco island, where local authorities say strong waves often make the existing port inaccessible and a decision could be made in October.
The Philippines nearly doubled the number of military bases its US forces have access to last year, ostensibly for humanitarian aid, and has always had thousands of US troops in the country.at home and abroad for joint exercises.China believes that these US measures are “adding fire” to regional tensions.
The Chinese embassy in Manila did not immediately respond to Basco’s request for comment on the proposed port.
Two other Philippine officials, who requested anonymity because they were not authorized to speak to the media, said the US military recently visited Batanes to discuss the port.One, a senior military official, said the Philippine armed forces are interested in radar and improving surveillance capabilities in the area.
Cayco confirmed the visit and said it had come “once to assess” the proposed alternative port.
The move comes as Washington pursues closer ties with Asian nations to counter China in the Asia-Pacific region, including the Philippines
It is former colony and treaty ally.Kanishka Gangopadhyay, a spokesperson for the U.S embassy in Manila, said U.S.Embassy and U.S.Army Pacific (USARPAC) experts had been engaging the governor and local government, “at their request, to discuss ways USARPAC can support engineering, medical, and agricultural development projects in the province.”
He did not mention the port specifically.MARCOS INCREASES U.S.ACCESSPrevious President Rodrigo Duterte had threatened to scrap the U.S.
-Philippines alliance and realign the country with Beijing but relations between China and the Philippines have grown tense under the current president, Ferdinand Marcos Jr.
Marcos, the son and namesake of the disgraced late strongman president, has sought closer ties with Washington, granting it access to four more military bases, including several close to Taiwan, though not in Batanes, and announced joint patrols in the South China Sea.
Marcos has said the bases under the Enhanced Defence Cooperation Agreement (EDCA) could prove useful if China attacked Taiwan.
Security officials in Manila said they believed any military conflict in the Taiwan Strait would inevitably affect the Philippines, given its geographic proximity to Taiwan and the presence of over 150,000 Filipinos on the democratically-governed island.
Batanes is also the training site for this year’s joint military exercise, known as Balikatan, which involved more than 17,000 Filipino and American troops, making it the largest military exercise ever.now.
At the time of the exercise, Cayco said it was looking for investment sources to build a seaport and airport in the island province, where 18,000 people live.
Local government officials say the province could be home to Filipinos fleeing Taiwan if conflict breaks out there and residents worry about rising tensions.
The Philippines and China have also clashed in recent months over disputed waters in the South China Sea, when Chinese ships fired water cannons at a Filipino ship trying to send supplies to an outpost.
Cayco said it has not had any conversations with the United States about EDCA or radar installations.
She also said there has been no discussion yet about US access to the proposed port, but the military could use all ports in the region to hold regular military exercises like Balikatan.Jay Batongbacal, an expert on maritime affairs at the University of the Philippines, said the proposed port “would certainly be necessary to protect the island in the worst-case scenario”.
“If I were a Chinese strategist, I would want to take Batanes to a minimum to secure control of the Luzon Strait and use the island to block the access of naval forces to China,” he said.
So do not fear, for I am with you;
do not be dismayed, for I am your God.
I will strengthen you and help you;
I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.
