Japan, Australia, and the Philippines Alliance Against China

TEHRAN (Defapress) - The recent military action by Japan, Australia, and the Philippines in the Indo-Pacific region is actually part of the US strategy to contain China. On August 12, the Japanese Air Self-Defense Forces announced that the Hawkeye long-range warning aircraft conducted joint air operations with Philippine FA-50 fighters around the country.

The mission, which was carried out after the aircraft returned from a training exercise in Australia, reflects the growing air cooperation in the Southeast Asian region and the realization of the concept of a “free and open Indo-Pacific region.” The Tokyo-Manila-Adelaide axis has been formed as a deterrent against the expansion of China’s influence, and the Philippines plays a role as a geographical link between Japan and Australia.

The partnership includes mutual access, information sharing, logistics, and joint exercises. With its broad tactical imagery and command and control capabilities, the Hawkeye can help Philippine fighters identify threats beyond the range of their radars; however, creating a complete air defense network requires secure communications infrastructure and ongoing training.

Although Japan operates only four Hawkeyes, the United States, with dozens of the aircraft, plays a leading role in the coalition. The ultimate goal of the coalition is to create a decentralized deterrence architecture in Southeast Asia, in which various military assets operate in a networked and distributed manner against Beijing’s growing influence in the region.