logistics is important in wars, but rarely discussed in high school history classes.
I was discussing the Battle of Salimas with my stepson, and noted that although the Spartans were known for their military, it was the Athenian navy who destroyed their ships so they lost the ability to get supplies to sustain their huge army, and there wasn't a lot of local food for them to loot so they had to bring in supplies.
a similar tactic is one reason that the Japanese invasion of Korea (on the way to conquer China) got into trouble. And that is why in K dramas, you see statues of Admiral Yi but few westerners are aware of that war.
to destroy the Japanese supply ships, he used new technology (armoured "turtle ships") and more importantly, the knowledge of the tides. Fast forward to ten minutes for the sea battles.
such history is important, because if China invades Taiwan, they will have to face logistical problems: because it would further allow China to block shipping through the strait between Taiwan and the Philippines.
as this article on StrategyPage notes: they could use civilian on/off ferries to transport huge number of invading troops. But what if Taiwan opposed them?
in the meanwhile, close to Taiwan is the Philippines. Duterte tried to make nice with China but they screwed him, and of course now Marcos is president and is getting mad at China's continued aggression against the Philippines within our EEZ and other areas.
So now we read that the government might allow more Yanks to use our military bases.
The first five Edca locations were Basa Air Base in Pampanga, Fort Magsaysay in Nueva Ecija, Lumbia Air Base in Cagayan de Oro, Antonio Bautista Air Base in Palawan, and Mactan Benito Ebuen Air Base in Cebu. The sites added this year included three in the northern Philippines—Camilo Osias Naval Base and Lal-lo Airport both in Cagayan, and Camp Melchor dela Cruz in Gamu, Isabela. The fourth is on Balabac Island in the West Philippine Sea, close to the Panganiban (Mischief) Reef, which the Chinese seized in 1995 and turned into one of its biggest artificial islands within the Philippines’ 370-kilometer exclusive economic zone.
most of the news reports frame the story as if it is about America vs China. But it is Chinese aggression against the Philippines (and VietNam) in the West Philippine Sea that started this. Obama pressured PNoy not to fight but try peaceful resolution via courts, and the Philippines won, but that didn't stop China. Then Duterte tried to make nice, and China screwed him and didn't keep the aid agreements.
So now Marcos is cooperating with the US to try to stop the aggression... and since the sealanes (and internet cables) in the West Philippine sea are at stake if China is allowed unchecked to stop freedom of naviagation in the area, Japan and Korea are helping too...
But of course, much of the economy is run by ethnic Chinese families. So will they cooperate with China, or will they recognize their Filipino roots? and what about all those Chinese working in casinos or here illegally? How many are stealth PLA personnel?
Developing.
