Tightening the First Island Chain

 

Philippines may allow U.S. military access during Taiwan crisis

 

In a potential Taiwan conflict, would the U.S. be able to use the Philippines as a staging ground for military operations? The answer to that question changes war plans dramatically, and perhaps even the outcome of the war.
 
Jose Manuel Romualdez, the Philippine ambassador to the U.S. and a relative of Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., told Nikkei in an interview that the Southeast Asian nation would be willing to grant permission on one condition: Only "if it is important for us, for our own security."
 
Romualdez said Manila is in talks with Washington to increase the number of Philippine military bases that American forces can use. The bilateral Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement concluded in 2014 lets the U.S. maintain a rotating military presence at five Philippine bases.
 
"Our military and the military of the United States are all looking into what are the possible areas," Romualdez said. Additional bases may include a naval base, he noted.
 
As the U.S. military seeks to distribute forces along the so-called first island chain stretching from Japan to Southeast Asia, the geopolitical importance of the Philippines is growing. The ambassador's comments shed light on which path the new Marcos administration may take.