US EditionA narrow Pacific waterway is at the heart of U.S. plans to choke China’s vast navy
U.S. and Philippine forces use advanced anti-ship missiles and joint exercises to block China’s navy from the Bashi Channel, a vital maritime chokepoint in the First Island Chain.
- This year, United States military forces and the Philippine Armed Forces rehearsed making the Bashi Channel impassable with ground-based anti-ship missiles, reflecting near-permanent U.S. deployments in the Philippines.
- Analysts say China would need Western Pacific access to counter U.S. and Japanese intervention in a Taiwan crisis, and the Philippines sits on the First Island Chain that encloses China’s coastal seas.
- U.S. drills showcased specific systems such as NMESIS airlifted to Batanes, Tomahawk missiles with at least 1,600 kilometers range, and last year's Typhon ground-based launcher deployment to Luzon.
- Provincial authorities are updating contingency plans for mass repatriations of overseas Filipino workers and opened a Batan island forward operating base in late August.
- Washington and Manila have expanded commitments with over 500 planned engagements for 2026, while the Marcos administration granted U.S. access to four new military sites despite Beijing calling deployments 'very dangerous'.
8 Articles
8 Articles
U.S., Philippines aim to block China’s navy in key Pacific channel
BATANES, Philippines — Marilyn Hubalde still remembers the first time she heard the thunderous chop of military helicopters swooping over this northernmost outpost of the Philippines, less than 90 miles from Taiwan. It was April 2023, when Filipino and American troops descended on the cluster of 10 emerald green islands of Batanes province for amphibious warfare drills. “We were terrified,” the 65-year-old Hubalde recalled. “We thought China mi…
A Narrow Passage, A Grand Plan: How the U.S. Aims to Strangle China's Naval Ambitions
Marilyn Hubalde recalls the fear of local residents in Batanes, Philippines, when they first heard military helicopters during joint exercises with U. S. troops in April 2023. Hubalde’s helper even hid in the woods, thinking war had begun. The military drills, part of increased U. S.-Philippines cooperation, involve airlifting anti-ship missile launchers to the islands, […] The post A Narrow Passage, A Grand Plan: How the U.S. Aims to Strangle C…
Narrow channel in Luzon Strait key to US plan to choke China's navy
Part 1 of 3BATANES, Philippines — Marilyn Hubalde still remembers the first time she heard the thunderous chop of military helicopters swooping over this northernmost outpost of the Philippines, less than 90 miles from Taiwan. It was April 2023, when Filipino and American troops descended on the cluster of 10 emerald green islands of Batanes province for amphibious warfare drills.“We were terrified,” the 65-year-old Hubalde recalled. “We thought…
U.S., Philippines aim to block China’s navy in key Pacific channel | Honolulu Star-Advertiser
BATANES, Philippines >> Marilyn Hubalde still remembers the first time she heard the thunderous chop of military helicopters swooping over this northernmost outpost of the Philippines, less than 90 miles from Taiwan. It was April 2023, when Filipino and American troops descended on the cluster of 10 emerald green islands of Batanes province for amphibious warfare drills.
A narrow Pacific waterway is at the heart of U.S. plans to choke China's vast navy
Marilyn Hubalde still remembers the first time she heard the thunderous chop of military helicopters swooping over this northernmost outpost of the Philippines, less than 90 miles from Taiwan. It was... -October 31, 2025 at 05:14 am EDT MarketScreener
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