中国在太平洋扩张影响力的行动有了新目标：菲律宾的一串小岛，这些岛屿对美国防卫台湾至关重要。
China’s campaign to expand its reach in the Pacific has a new target: a chain of tiny Philippine islands that would be critical to any U.S. defense of Taiwan.
巴丹群岛位于台湾正南方的一条水道上，如果中国要攻打台湾，很可能需要控制这条水道。北京已承诺，必要时将以武力拿下自治的台湾。
The Batanes Islands sit just south of Taiwan on a channel the Chinese would likely need to control for an attack on the island. Beijing has promised to take self-ruled Taiwan by force, if necessary.