The Philippines’ National Security Advisor stated on Friday that the Philippines has established a coast guard station on a northern island near Taiwan to enhance its surveillance capabilities of military buildup by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) in the region.
Eduardo Ano mentioned in a statement that the outpost “will collect vital maritime data and intelligence, enabling the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) to effectively counter threats such as illegal trade, trafficking, piracy, and foreign invasions.”
Ano noted, “In 2022, as a response to political developments between Taiwan and the United States, there was a military buildup in the vicinity of Itbayat,” announcing the establishment of a guard station on Itbayat Island, the northernmost inhabited island in the Philippines.
Itbayat is located about 150 kilometers (93 miles) south of Taiwan’s southern coast, serving as one of the venues for the joint Philippines-US military exercises conducted from April 22 to May 10, with over 16,000 personnel from both sides participating. The exercises included simulations on using missiles and artillery to repel simulated maritime invasions.
Ano stressed the importance of ensuring peace, stability, and freedom of navigation in the Luzon Strait for the security and economic prosperity of the Philippines. He highlighted the Luzon Strait, located between the Philippines and Taiwan, as both a “crucial international waterway” and a “potential flashpoint for regional and international conflicts.”
Jay Tarriela, the spokesperson for the Philippine Coast Guard responsible for South China Sea matters, stated that the Itbayat station will be able to effectively monitor vessels passing through the Luzon Strait.
The Luzon Strait hosts multiple undersea cable systems and serves as a transit point for vessels navigating between the Philippine Sea and the disputed South China Sea.
Ano pointed out that frequent appearances of Chinese research vessels in the area underscore the importance of ensuring peace, stability, and freedom of navigation in the Luzon Strait.
To assert its territorial claims, the CCP has been constructing artificial islands and military facilities in waters near the Philippines. In recent years, China has also been obstructing Philippine vessels from entering disputed areas for fishing and resupply missions, employing tactics including water cannon attacks that have resulted in injuries to Filipino crew members.
Amid escalating tensions in maritime affairs with China, the Philippines has been strengthening its ties with longtime ally, the United States.
As part of defense cooperation agreements, the Philippine government authorized the US military to use a naval base on the northern coast of Luzon Island and nearby airports last year.
In 2023, the number of military bases in the Philippines where US forces were allowed to enter nearly doubled, including three bases facing Taiwan. China has criticized these moves, claiming they exacerbate tensions in the region.
The Eastern Theater Command of the CCP held a two-day military exercise targeting Taiwan on Thursday. The exercise, as expected, was aimed at putting pressure on Taiwan’s newly inaugurated President, Tsai Ing-wen, who took office on Monday, becoming the 16th president of the Republic of China.
Tsai has rejected Beijing’s sovereignty claims over Taiwan, asserting that only the people of Taiwan can determine their future. Meanwhile, Taiwan’s armed forces have been mobilized to monitor and track CCP military movements.
During the exercise, China conducted simulated missile attacks and dispatched bombers carrying live ammunition missiles.
The US Department of Defense and State Department issued statements on Thursday strongly urging Beijing to exercise restraint and warning against using Taiwan’s political transition as an excuse for provocative or coercive measures.
In 2022, backlash from China was also fierce when then-Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi visited Taiwan.
(Adapted from reports by Agence France-Presse and Reuters)