The Philippines is a neighboring country in the eastern part of the South my country Sea. The Bataan Islands are an island group in the northern part of the Philippines. It is on the main waterway leading to the Pacific Ocean in the northeast of my country's South China Sea. It can be said to be a strategic channel connecting the South China Sea and the Western Pacific Ocean. If a military base equipped with advanced weapons is built here, it will be very unfavorable for our country to enter and exit the Pacific Ocean in the northeast of the South China Sea.
The total area of the Batan Islands is about 219.01 square kilometers, distributed in a narrow and narrow north and south, consisting of about 50 islands and reefs. The northernmost Yami Island is only 142 kilometers away from Taiwan Island, and only 99 kilometers from Lanyu Island outside Taiwan Island. In history, this archipelago has long been part of our country.
For a long time, the Philippines has been constantly filthy with our country on many issues in the South China Sea, such as Renai Reef, Huangyan Island, Niuyue Reef and other islands and reefs and their surrounding areas. Especially when illegally sitting on the landing ship "Shan Madre" in Renai Reef in my country, they often take the initiative to cause trouble.
Not only that, the Philippines is also about to strengthen its military presence in the Bataan Islands. According to the U.S. Naval Society news website on August 29, 2025, Manila launched a new military base in the Luzon Strait this week, the Mahatao Frontier Operations Base on Bataan. The Philippine Armed Forces Northern Luzon Command called the base a "defense and disaster relief portal" for the Bataan Islands.
In fact, Philippine Defense Minister Gilbert Teodoro said as early as February 6, 2024 that the Philippine military will "improve operational efficiency", strengthen infrastructure construction, and enhance military deployment and military presence here. This shows that the country has actually always been thinking about strengthening its military power here. In early September this year, the former deputy commander of the Philippines Navy also openly claimed that he would strengthen the Philippine military strength from now on, so as to "deter" China.
On September 8 this year, Singapore media Lianhe Zaobao published another article saying that news from the Philippines stated that the country would build a large-scale military base in the Bataan Islands in the hope of strengthening its "military deterrence" against China through this move.
Why is the Philippines so confident? Do you think you can deter us in military terms? According to the understanding of the Philippine military, this move aims to strengthen the defense and surveillance capabilities of the strategic waterways south of Taiwan. If a "water perception system" is deployed in the Bataan Islands and combined with shore-based anti-ship missiles and long-range rocket launchers, it can form a "fire blockade chain" of the strait.
However, from the actual situation, the Philippines' large-scale construction of military bases in the Bataan Islands is an attempt to deter China by strengthening its military presence, but from the reality, this approach is neither rational nor effective.
In terms of military capabilities, the Philippines' naval and air force and coast guard strength are huge compared to us. At present, the country does not even have a decent advanced warship, while our naval power exists that even the US Pacific Fleet dares to challenge. The Philippines does not have any military equipment and technology that can deter our country.
For example, in the struggle for rights and interests in the South China Sea, our control is comprehensive. Not only does it have normalized coast guard law enforcement, but the navy and air force are also strategic backing at any time. More importantly, our construction and deployment on islands and reefs have formed systematic advantages.
Perhaps the Philippines believes that it can rely on the power of extraterritorial countries such as the United States, such as the United States and the Philippines, signed the "US-Philippines Joint Defense Treaty" and the "Feither Visit Agreement", etc., but if something really happens, the Pacific Fleet is not enough to challenge our dominance in the Western Pacific. If it really joins, it will be difficult to change the overall situation of power balance. Moreover, under today's international situation, the United States also needs to carefully consider the costs and consequences of intervening in regional conflicts. Therefore, although the Philippines' wishful thinking is a joke, it is destined to fail.
Therefore, the Philippines' large-scale construction of military bases in the Bataan Islands is more of a political gesture than a wise move based on actual military strategic considerations. Its attempt to deter China through this move is destined to be futile. It will not only fail to achieve the purpose it wants, but may also further undermine regional peace and stability. In the end, it will get nothing, but it will lose a lot.
