The recent establishment of US bases in the Philippines is causing concern for China due to its lack of strategic space. The proximity of US bases means that major Chinese cities are now within 600 miles of potential attack, leaving China vulnerable. This has reduced China’s control over the South China Sea, with the Bashi Channel being a critical chokepoint that allows the connection between China’s shores and the open ocean. The channel is not only important for China’s strategic projection, but it also serves as a major conduit for global data traffic, with 97 to 99% of all data traffic passing through the submarine cable network.
