Missile Arc? Japan Deploys 1st Long-Range Missiles, Philippines Pivots BrahMos Against China |EP793

The US, Japan, the Philippines and Taiwan are deploying increasingly powerful coastal defense systems along the First Island Chain, creating a “missile arc” aimed at deterring China’s aggression. From Japan’s upgraded Type-12 missiles covering the Miyako Strait, to the Philippines’ Indian-made BrahMos batteries guarding the Bashi Channel, and Taiwan’s growing concentration of Hsiung Feng anti-ship missiles, these overlapping ranges could transform key maritime chokepoints into highly contested zones. It comes as Washington discusses stockpiling more weapon supplies in Taiwan, which could be accessed during an attempted blockade. In this episode, we examine how this emerging missile arc could affect China’s military operations, the implications for a potential conflict in the Taiwan Strait, and what it means for the peace and stability of the Indo-Pacific region.

*Recorded on March 13, 2026 at 11am Taiwan Standard Time

Host/Senior Producer: Yin Khvat

Our guests:

Liou To-hai
- National Chengchi University College of International Affairs Adjunct Distinguished Professor
Guermantes Lailari
- Jewish Policy Center Senior Non-Resident Fellow
- US Air Force Lt. Colonel (Ret.)

Chapters:
00:00:00 – Is First Island Chain Becoming a Missile Arc?
00:01:00 – China Resumes Incursions After Brief Pause
00:04:23 – US Allies Position Missiles Near Chokepoints
00:10:16 – Manila Expands Missile Arsenal to Deter China
00:20:01 – Japan Increases Its Counter-Strike Capability
00:22:43 – US Seeks to Boost Taiwan’s Defense Stockpile




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