US Military to Help Build New Seaport for Filipino Evacuations Near Taiwan

Defense News ,South China Sea :-  The United States military plans to assist in constructing a new port on an island in the Philippines close to Taiwan, as reported by Taiwan News. The upcoming port in the Batanes province, located less than 200 kilometers from southern Taiwan, is intended for quickly evacuating Filipinos in case of a Chinese invasion.

Currently, over 150,000 Filipinos are working in Taiwan, and concerns are rising that the US-supported military activities on the island might be aimed at providing strategic advantages to Washington in the event of a potential attack by Beijing on Taiwan.

While the exact location of the new seaport hasn't been publicly disclosed, it's likely to face north. The largest port in the province, Basco Seaport, faces west. A US military delegation is expected to visit Batanes next month to discuss the construction and funding of the new facility.

This development aligns with the Philippines' efforts to strengthen its defensive capabilities near Taiwan. Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro has called for increased troop deployment and infrastructure in Batanes, considering it the "spearhead of the Philippines as far as the northern baseline is concerned." The province is also being considered for the annual US-Philippines joint military exercise, "Balikatan."

Following the call for Batanes residents to join the military, more than 120 additional naval reservists have reportedly been deployed to various bases in the province. In case of a Chinese blockade of Taiwan, the northern Philippine islands could play a crucial role as staging points for the US military to continue supplying Taiwan.