Philippines in hard and fast offensive shift on China

The Philippines officially kicked off its new Comprehensive Archipelagic Defense Concept (CADC), a shot across China’s bow which among other things orders an increased military presence on the northernmost island province of Batanes near Taiwan.  

Philippine Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr made it clear that the new strategic doctrine transcends the “directives” of any specific president or administration and relies instead on “whole-of-nation” long-term implementation planning.

Accordingly, Teodoro called on all “commanders and units” in the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) “to exert all efforts to operationalize” the new strategic doctrine.