This week, the military forces of the Philippines, the United States, and Japan engaged in joint maneuvers over the Bashi Channel, which separates the Philippine archipelago from Taiwan. The exercises included patrols by aircraft from the three nations over the Batanes Islands in the northern Philippines. Officials from the Philippine Army stated that the aim was to demonstrate their capability to operate seamlessly in complex maritime environments.

The proximity of these exercises to Taiwan, which lies just over 100 kilometers away from the Philippines, highlights the growing tensions in the region. Taiwan, a democratic island, is regarded by China as a part of its territory, with Beijing not ruling out the use of force to claim it. This military cooperation between the United States, Japan, and the Philippines is part of a broader strategy to counter China's influence and assert a unified front in response to its aggressive posturing in the South China Sea and around Taiwan.

These joint exercises mark the first time that Multilateral Maritime Cooperation Activities (MMCA) have been carried out with the three nations involved, which may set a precedent for future collaborations. The Chinese government has already expressed its discontent, protesting the exercises, which it views as a direct challenge to its territorial claims and as an act of provocation in the increasingly contested waters of the South China Sea.