For decades, the Philippine Sea has been seen as the gateway through which US and allied forces would sail to Taiwan’s defence in a war with the Chinese mainland.
But with the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) increasingly pushing into the western Pacific, experts say Beijing would seek to place aircraft carriers in the waters east of Taiwan to complicate any intervention.
Rather than a gateway, the Philippine Sea could be a critical battleground.
Northeast Asia is home to land-based missile networks that could make operating near shore too risky. So, the Philippine Sea would be a “decisive location for carrier operations”, said Michael Bosack, director of the non-profit Parley Policy Initiative.
“There, their utility and capabilities can be maximised in shaping the wider maritime battlespace. This supports the establishment of a regional buffer, frustrating foreign maritime forces before they can even enter the fray.”
By putting carrier groups in the Philippine Sea, China could not only intercept enemy ships, but also deter potential actors from even initiating the long voyage, he said.