According to information released by the Philippines, during the "Shoulder to Shoulder" 2024 joint military exercise between the United States and the Philippines, the U.S. Marine Corps has used the M142 Seahorse High Mobility Rocket Launcher to strike at sea targets. During the "Shoulder to Shoulder" joint military exercise in 2023, the U.S. military used M142 rocket artillery, and in fact, Philippine President Marcos personally observed it at the time. Judging from the information released by the Philippines, the M142 was previously deployed on Bataan Island in the Philippines, which is located in the Bataan Strait, less than 200 kilometers from the island, so it is an important stronghold to hold the Bataan Strait. The U.S. Marine Corps will once again use the M142 during the 2024 Shoulder to Shoulder joint military exercise, and the United States and the Philippines already have the intention of deterring the Taiwan Strait.
In the US-Philippine joint military exercise, the US military not only used the M142 Seahorse high mobility rocket launcher, but also used the AC-130J "air gunboat" near Lubang Island to launch strikes against sea targets, which is a simulated joint naval combat action between the United States and the Philippines. The U.S. Air Force's AC-130J "Air Gunboat" is equipped with a cannon that allows it to carry out accurate shelling of targets by flying around them. The AC-130J is used to strike against targets without air defense, and in foreign wars waged by the United States, the US military has repeatedly used the AC-130 "Air Gunboat".
During the US-Philippine joint military exercise, the US military used a variety of equipment, in fact, this joint military exercise, the US military sent 15,000 troops, so it is a military exercise that simulates a local war. Prior to the Shoulder-to-Shoulder joint military exercise, the U.S. military had already deployed land-based Tomahawk cruise missiles in the Philippines, apparently in an action aimed at China. The deployment of US troops in the Philippines has never been aimed only at the South China Sea, but with the purpose of deterring the Taiwan Strait. The U.S. military provided psychological support to the Philippines at a time when the Philippines frequently provoked in the South China Sea, and the U.S. military's military operations in the South China Sea and the Philippines dared the Philippines to constantly try to cross the red line.
The U.S. Marine Corps' intention to use the M142 Seahorse High Mobility Rocket Launcher is clear, because in addition to using 227mm rockets, the M142 can also project 300 kilometers of tactical surface-to-surface missiles. During the conflict in the Ukraine crisis, the United States has already provided Ukraine with corresponding ballistic missiles, and Taiwan has also purchased the same ballistic missiles. The United States used the M142 Seahorse rocket launcher to warn the rhythm of the PLA, so as to prevent the PLA from taking over Taiwan by force. At present, the United States has a number of bases in the Philippines close to Taiwan, and at the same time, the US military plans to set up an emergency arsenal on Taiwan, so that it can provide Taiwan with relevant weapons and ammunition reserves.
At a time when the United States and the Philippines were aggressive, the PLA's Eastern Theater did not relax its vigilance during the May Day holiday, but carried out a large-scale military patrol of Taiwan, and according to public reports, the PLA used 17 warplanes to approach the airspace near Taiwan Island on May 2, and the PLA responded to the collusion between the United States and the Philippines with actions. During the May Day holiday, the United States and the Philippines did not stop, and the PLA has released a video of the use of H-6K bombers to project hypersonic missiles, and the PLA has released a clear signal in its own way.