Trump Warns China 'Will Be Met Harshly' | Marcos Visits Takaichi to Talk Security|Taiwan T

The Philippines and Japan, along the First Island Chain, are entering a new phase of security cooperation as concerns grow over potential Chinese aggression in the Taiwan Strait. Ahead of Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr’s meeting with Japanese PM Takaichi Sanae in Tokyo, discussions are intensifying over missile transfers, military coordination and the future role of the First Island Chain. It comes as US and Japanese forces conduct joint exercises on the islands of Ishigaki, Miyako and Yonaguni nearest to Taiwan. Beijing has lashed out at Japan for strengthening its defenses, even as China's Liaoning aircraft carrier embarks on training operations in the Western Pacific. In this episode, we examine the growing Philippines-Japan partnership, China’s reaction and what these developments mean for the security of Taiwan and the Indo-Pacific.

*Recorded on May 21, 2026 at 4pm Taiwan Standard Time

Host/Senior Producer: Yin Khvat
Consultant: Max Yu
Research Assistant: April Lin

Our guests:

Liou To-hai
- National Chengchi University College of International Affairs Adjunct Distinguished Professor
James Fanell
- US Navy Captain (Ret.)
Renato Cruz de Castro
- De La Salle University Department of International Studies Distinguished Professor

Chapters:
00:00:00 – Philippines, Japan Enter New Phase
00:02:08 – Marcos to Visit Takaichi
00:12:24 – US Officials Say Taiwan Policy Unchanged
00:18:08 – Japan, US Hold Joint Exercises




#IndoPacific #Philippines #Japan #Taiwan #USJapanAlliance #IndoPacificSecurity #AsiaPacific #TaiwanStrait #DefenseCooperation #MilitaryDrills #JointExercises #DonaldTrump #XiJinping #LaiChingte #Marcos #SanaeTakaichi #USMilitary #JapanSelfDefenseForces #StrategicAlliance #SecurityPartnership #RegionalSecurity #MaritimeSecurity #SouthChinaSea #EastChinaSea #FirstIslandChain #ForeignPolicy #Diplomacy2026 #BilateralTies #DefenseTies #MilitaryExercises #SecurityLinks #PacificSecurity #AllianceBuilding #RegionalStability #StrategicPartnership #MilitaryReadiness #Deterrence #NationalSecurity #InternationalSecurity #MaritimeDefense #AsiaSecurity #Geostrategy #DefenseStrategy #SecurityPolicy #AsiaDiplomacy #GlobalSecurity #CrossStraitTensions #TaiwanPolicy #USForeignPolicy #FreedomOfNavigation #JointTraining #RegionalPeace #StrategicCompetition #PacificAlliance #MilitaryCooperation #SecuritySummit #DefenseRelations #GeopoliticalTensions #AsiaPacificSecurity #IndoPacificStrategy #USPhilippinesAlliance #JapanPhilippinesRelations #InternationalRelations #Geopolitics #TaiwanPlus #TaiwanTalks