Runyan50 on Nostr: This only speculation, but it seems this placement in the Philippines keeps China on ...

This only speculation, but it seems this placement in the Philippines keeps China on their back foot regarding the Spratleys. If they use real violence against a ship there, they will be attacked by both subsonic and supersonic missiles simultaneously. Those missiles could be fired by the Navy, but this ostentatious placement by the Army is a line in the sand so to speak. The Tomahawk’s ability to hit the Chinese mainland is a bonus.