The Philippines has opened a new base in its far northern Batanes province, in the middle of the strategic Luzon Strait frequented by Chinese navy ships.

Why It Matters

The Philippines is part of the so-called first island chain, a string of Pacific allies the Pentagon views as critical to containing China's military in the event of a conflict. Since last year, the U.S. has deployed missile systems to the northern Philippines that put parts of China—and any ships passing through the narrow strait—in range.

Manila is locked in a territorial dispute over China 's expansive patrols within the Philippines' maritime zones, and the presence of the U.S. missiles has further inflamed tensions, with Manila resisting Beijing's demands to remove them, insisting their deployment is not aimed at

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