Compass Points - South China Sea
Trouble for the Philippines
Compass Points - South China Sea
Trouble for the Philippines
March 18, 2024
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The Philippine nation is under constant threat from China. Just this month, the Philippine government filed an official protest over China's actions in the South China Sea.
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The Philippines summoned China's deputy chief of mission in Manila on Tuesday to protest at what it called "aggressive actions" by Chinese naval forces against a resupply mission for Filipino troops stationed on a South China Sea shoal.
Manila's South China Sea task force said Philippine vessels carrying out the routine mission to the Second Thomas Shoal were "harassed (and) blocked" by Chinese maritime militia and coast guard ships on Tuesday.
-- Reuters
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The Philippine government also announced that by the end of this month, it will have new anti-ship missiles.
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By the end of March, the Philippines expects to have its first BrahMos anti-ship cruise missiles, and Japan plans to begin training its personnel to operate Tomahawk missiles. Those acquisitions reflect a growing belief across the region that the best way to counter China in a conflict is with stand-off weapons that could keep Chinese warships at bay.
Breaking Defense - Indo-Pacific
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As part of the strategy to counter China, the Philippines made a decision nearly one year ago to accept some US funding to expand a series of northern island bases to better defend against China.
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The Philippines identified on Monday four more of its military bases that the United States will get access to, almost doubling the number included in a defence agreement that seeks to advance a decades-old alliance between them.
The expansion of the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA) underlines the Philippines' strategic importance to the former colonial ruler the United States, coming at a time of growing concern over China's conduct in the South China Sea and tension over self-ruled Taiwan.
. . . The sites named on Monday are the Camilo Osias navy base in Sta Ana and Lal-lo airport, both in Cagayan province, and Camp Melchor Dela Cruz in Gamu, Isabela province and the island of Balabac off Palawan.
. . . [Prime Minister] Marcos' office on Monday said the four locations should "boost the disaster response" and help humanitarian and relief operations, adding defending the east cost was also taken into consideration.
-- Reuters
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The Philippines are in constant threat from China. The Philippines is acquiring new Russian anti-ship missiles to deter China. The Philippines have accepted US funds to upgrade island bases to counter China. This all fits together perfectly with the Marine Corps' Force Design plan to place small US Marine Corps missile units on islands in the Pacific. The Force Design plan depends on convincing Pacific nations to agree to accept the US Marine missile units on their islands. So, how many Marine missile units are now permanently in place on Philippine islands?
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The answer is there are zero US Marine missile units in place on Philippine islands. Even though the Philippines has a robust military and even though it is under constant actual threat from China, still it does not want to risk increasing the attention and anger from China by letting US Marine missile units establish themselves on Philippine territory.
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But if the Philippines, a fairly powerful nation in that part of the Pacific, are too afraid of China to open the door to US Marine missile units in the Pacific, then why should any of the smaller nations?
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If only there was a way for Marine units to have a presence in the Pacific without needing host nation approval. There is a way. While US island missile units need prior and continuing host nation approval, approval that even if given can be quickly reversed, a Marine Expeditionary Unit embarked on Navy amphibious ships does not require host nation approval. A MEU can be always on patrol, ready to quickly arrive to the scene of a crisis to deter, assist, or fight. As the Philippine military continues to knock heads with China in the South China Sea, they would probably love to have a MEU nearby ready for anything.
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Compass Points salutes the Philippine military and all the military forces of the Pacific nations who are standing up to China.
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Reuters - 03/04/2024
Philippines summons China diplomat over 'aggressive' actions in South China Sea
By Bernard Orr, Liz Lee and Karen Lema
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Breaking Defense - 03/15/2024
Philippines, Japan near long-range missile milestones as they arm up for China
By Christopher Woody
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Reuters - 04/03/2023
Philippines reveals locations of 4 new strategic sites for U.S. military pact
By Karen Lema
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Imagine if you will, a pre-FD 2030 Marine division, with a couple of Naval Strike Missile batteries as part of the artillery regimental T/O. Also, imagine a MEU operating in the Western Pacific with instead of a tank platoon aboard, a mobile naval strike missile platoon in its place, in the well deck of an L Class amphibious ship. Such a force would be ready to deploy, with a missile strike capability anywhere, at anytime. A pre-FD 2030 Marine Division as I have described, provides the traditional MAGTF MEU with tanks, arty, with the added capability of a naval strike mission.
While the Marine Corps is planning on the big near-peer conflict with China, there are growing world wide emergencies and conflicts which this Nation is now not ready to confront. In the move to FD 2030, the Marine Corps has relinquished the most unique capability it provides this Nation. That is its ready, combined arms, naval expeditionary force. Ready to deploy, and strike if needed, anywhere at any time.