How Beijing could use its military and trade to hit back at Tokyo-Manila ties

Chinese experts suggest Beijing might respond to deepening defense cooperation between Tokyo and Manila with military actions, enhanced electronic warfare capabilities, and trade sanctions. This potential reaction follows Manila and Tokyo's announcement last week to negotiate maritime boundaries around Taiwan, a move Beijing deemed "completely illegal and invalid." A report by the Beijing Lande Information Technology think tank characterized the Japan-Philippines relationship as a "quasi-military alliance" that could potentially impede Chinese naval access to the western Pacific. The experts' statements indicate China's concern over the implications of this bilateral agreement for its strategic interests.