In this Oped on Wall Street Journal, Daniel Z. Katz – the director for defense analysis at Aviation Week Intelligence and Data Services – urge the U.S. government to station a fighter wing, air-refueling tankers and P-8 on Luzon, Philippines.
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By LCpl Jose D. Lujano [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons
“Stationing these aircraft on Luzon would prove useful in any of the three most likely conflicts with China. In the event of a conflict over the Spratly Islands, they would augment the 48 fighters that would sail into the theater on a U.S. carrier, more than doubling the combat aircraft on hand. They would add a third location near Taiwan from which to operate fighters if China launches an assault on the island, and they would add more forces within reach of Japan’s disputed Senkaku Islands,” according to Katz.
By doing so, it shows the United States commitment to “remain a protector of international law in the region and reinforce its ability to deter aggression.”
Clark Air Base in Luzon was previously home to the U.S. Air Force’s 3rd Tactical Fighter Wing until 1991.
[thumb]http://www.wsj.com/articles/countering-china-back-to-the-philippines-1453247380[/thumb]