Philippines establishes new coast guard station near Taiwan

24-5-2024 (MANILA) In a strategic move aimed at enhancing its maritime surveillance capabilities, the Philippines has unveiled a new coast guard station in its northern islands near Taiwan, bolstering its capacity to monitor an area where China has significantly increased its military presence. This development was announced by National Security Adviser Eduardo Año on Friday, May 24.

The new station, situated less than 200 km (125 miles) from Taiwan, a self-governing island claimed by China as its own territory, will significantly improve the Philippines’ ability to monitor the Luzon Strait, a vital international waterway situated south of Taiwan.

According to Año, the area around the town of Itbayat in the Philippines’ Batanes islands witnessed a military build-up in 2022, as China responded to “political developments” between Taiwan and the United States, Taiwan’s key foreign backer.

“China’s corresponding naval response was observed in the Luzon Strait,” Año stated in his statement, underscoring the strategic importance of the region.

The Luzon Strait, a crucial transit zone for vessels moving between the Philippine Sea and the contested South China Sea, is traversed by multiple cable systems, further amplifying its significance. Moreover, the frequent presence of Chinese survey ships in the area underscores the importance of “securing peace, stability, and freedom of navigation along the Luzon Strait,” Año emphasized.

The Philippine government’s move to establish the new coast guard station is a proactive step in addressing potential foreign threats and maritime crimes, including illicit trade, trafficking, piracy, and foreign intrusions, according to Año.

Notably, Itbayat was one of the venues for the joint military exercises conducted by the Philippines and the United States from April 22 to May 10, which saw the participation of more than 16,000 troops from both sides.

In a parallel development, the Philippines nearly doubled the number of its military bases that U.S. forces can access in 2023, including three facing Taiwan. China has criticized these moves, asserting that they are “stoking the fire” of regional tensions.

Meanwhile, in waters east of Taiwan, China conducted mock missile strikes and dispatched bombers carrying live missiles on Friday, as part of its two-day Taiwan drills, according to Beijing’s state-run CCTV. The exercises, launched to punish Taiwan’s new president, Lai Ching-te, whom China has denounced as a “separatist,” have further escalated tensions in the region.

While Lai has repeatedly offered talks with China, his overtures have been rebuffed. He maintains that only Taiwan’s people can decide their future, rejecting Beijing’s sovereignty claims. In response, Taiwan’s armed forces have mobilized to monitor and shadow Chinese forces.