Philippines Outsmarts China as Chinese Ships Collide Amid Marcos Taiwan Row | Taiwan Talks EP686

Recorded Tuesday, August 12, 2025 14:00 Taiwan Standard Time

Japan has received its first F-35B fighter jets from the United States, while also inking a deal to sell 11 Mogami-class frigates to Australia. Just days later, a Chinese Navy destroyer crashed into a Chinese Coast Guard ship while in a reckless pursuit of a Philippine Coast Guard vessel east of Scarborough Shoal. If China had hit the Philippine ship, it would have triggered an international incident. But could it have activated Manila’s Mutual Defense Treaty with Washington? And what impact might this episode have on tensions in the region? In this episode, we discuss the significance of these major arms deals among U.S. allies in light of China’s rising maritime aggression.

Host: Yin Khvat

Our Guests:

Tony Hu
- Former U.S. Department of Defense Senior Director for China, Taiwan and Mongolia

Lai I-chung
- Prospect Foundation President

Chapters:
00:00:00 – Repercussions of China’s Aggression
00:01:51 – Chinese Ships Collide Near Scarborough
00:07:24 – Marcos: “Stating Facts” Over Taiwan
00:12:08 – Japan's F-35Bs Can Operate on Carriers
00:20:16 – Australia to Buy 11 Japanese Frigates





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