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The Philippines recently opened a new military base in Batanes province, strategically located in the middle of the critical Luzon Strait, which is frequently visited by Chinese navy ships.
**Why It Matters**
As part of the so-called first island chain, the Philippines plays a crucial role in containing China’s military expansion. Since last year, the U.S. has deployed missile systems to northern parts of the Philippines that put significant portions of China and any ships passing through the narrow strait within range. Manila is engaged in territorial disputes with China over expansive patrols within its maritime zones. The presence of U.S. missiles has further heightened tensions, but Manila resists Beijing’s demands to remove them, asserting their deployment is not aimed at any specific country.
**What’s Next**
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If a war breaks out over Taiwan, the Philippines would inevitably be drawn into it, according to Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., who stated that “There is no way that the Philippines can stay out of it.” The top priority would be evacuating around 160,000 Filipino migrant workers in Taiwan.
In April, the U.S. deployed the NMESIS missile system for joint war games with the Philippines, though without live fire. This followed the 2024 deployment of a Typhon missile system to northern Luzon province. The U.S. and the Philippines share a Mutual Defense Treaty, increasing the number of bases U.S. forces can access from five to nine in response to heightened tensions with China.
**More Details**
On Thursday, Batanes Governor Ronald Aguto Jr. joined the Philippine navy’s Northern Luzon Command for a ribbon-cutting ceremony at the new base in Mahato on Batan Island. The site will serve as a hub for territorial defense, maritime domain awareness, and humanitarian assistance and disaster response. It is envisioned as a platform open to use by various agencies like the Philippine Coast Guard and Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources, enhancing coordination and rapid response in the Philippine seas.
China has vowed to unify with Taiwan by force if necessary, stepping up military pressure including large-scale drills simulating a blockade. Quietly behind the scenes, both the U.S. and allied forces are planning for potential conflict scenarios—just as China is doing.
**No Official Response Yet**
China has not yet publicly responded to the opening of the Mahato base.
