First Island Chain: Japanese Troops in the Philippines as 5 Exercises Converge
From the Philippines and Japan to Guam and Hawaii, an estimated 40,000 troops from over 30 countries are taking part in a series of overlapping military exercises, including Kamandag, Resolute Dragon, Valiant Shield and RIMPAC. Another estimated 100,000 Taiwanese troops are also participating in the concurrent Immediate Combat Readiness Exercise. These simultaneous drills across the First and Second Island Chains come amid growing tensions with China and debate over whether the US is reducing or strengthening its commitment to its regional allies. What message are these exercises intended to send to Beijing and others? In this episode, we examine the strategic significance of this unprecedented concentration of military activity and what it reveals about the future of Indo-Pacific security. *Recorded on June 23, 2026 at 11am Taiwan Standard Time Host/Senior Producer: Yin Khvat Our guests: Rommel Ong - Retired Rear Admiral and Former Philippine Navy Vice Commander Grant Newsham - Retired US Marine Corps Colonel K. Tristan Tang - Taiwan Defense Studies Initiative Co-Founder
