Japan can serve in this role in the north.
Taiwan is the obvious candidate for the center. And if this is correct, we will help Taiwan to restore their air strength:
Raymond Burghardt, chairman of the American Institute in Taiwan, said that China's "habit" of breaking off military ties following arms deals was not a factor behind the lack of U.S. approval of Taiwan's long-standing request for advanced F-16 C/D fighter jets.
"All good things come in their own time," Burghardt told reporters at a briefing during a visit to Taipei.
Well it's about time, is all I can say. This will nicely anchor a corridor through the central Pacific to support allies in an arc from the Philippines to South Korea and Japan. And note that this is a self-reinforcing cycle. The better we can help our allies in the shadow of China, the more likely they are to be willing to help us operate in that shadow.
That still leaves the southern anchor of a screen to be set up if we want to support Southeast Asia friends. Australia can function as a rear area but can't be a screen. The Philippines or bases in southern Vietnam would work. We shall see if that is in the works.
I suspect the Philippines are so weak and so close to China that they will be too wary to really pick up that role despite the former US bases there that would seem to be ideal. Vietnam, on the other hand, has the motive to resist China by seeking foreign help. Who knows, maybe we'll return to our old bases built in South Vietnam back in the day.
