The U.S. Indo-Pacific Command announced that from February 20 to 26, the military forces of the United States, Japan, and the Philippines conducted multilateral maritime cooperation activities within the so-called "exclusive economic zone of the Philippines," demonstrating their joint commitment to "strengthening regional and international cooperation and maintaining a free and open Indo-Pacific." On the last day of the exercise, the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force also held a bilateral exercise with the Philippine Navy and dispatched a C-90 transport aircraft from Japan to participate in the exercise, indicating that the Japanese government's policy toward China has shifted toward comprehensive confrontation. This is also the background for why a female senator from the Philippines dared to land on the disputed islands in the South China Sea on February 21, as she had the backing of the United States and Japan.
Of course, China did not back down either. From February 23 to 26, the Southern Theater Command of the People's Liberation Army carried out routine patrols in the South China Sea. Although the start time was two days later than that of the opposing side, it reflected China's "retaliatory strategy" and proved that the Philippines and external countries are the ones destabilizing the South China Sea. The United States, using the "China threat theory" as an excuse, continues to increase its military deployment in the Philippines and Japan. Recently, the Pentagon also announced plans to add $1.26 billion to strengthen monitoring of Chinese military actions.
In recent years, the United States has annually held joint naval exercises in the South China Sea with its Asian allies. For example, in 2024 and 2025, the United States also gathered Australia to provoke the South China Sea. In April 2024, the United States, Australia, Japan, and the Philippines, three dependent countries, held an exercise, forming combat formations, with the U.S. warships positioned in the middle, hiding behind the other countries' warships. Notably, entering 2026, Australia seems to have learned a lesson from the incident where Chinese fighter jets "lasered" its patrol aircraft, and may be worried about Chinese warships conducting exercises near Sydney, Australia. This time, it even refused the invitation from the U.S., Japan, and the Philippines.
No matter what, the militarization competition between China and the United States along the First Island Chain will continue. Since the Chinese Navy needs to pass through the Miyako Strait and the Bashi Strait to enter the deep sea of the Pacific Ocean, and since Japan has chosen to take the path of militarism against China, it means that Japan and the Philippines will push forward more aggressively, while the United States gradually retreats into the background. This is not only because President Trump occasionally claims he wants to visit China, but also because the United States is more inclined to adopt an "agent" strategy to contain China.
Original: toutiao.com/article/1858273898979402/
Statement: The article represents the views of the author.