MANILA, Philippines: Thousands of Filipino and American troops have launched joint military exercises in the Philippines on Monday, highlighting concerns over Beijing’s increasing assertiveness in the region.
The annual drills, known as Balikatan or “shoulder to shoulder” in Tagalog, will focus on areas in the northern and western parts of the Philippines, near the potential flashpoints of between China and Taiwan.
China’s expansive claims over the region, a crucial international trade route, and its assertion of sovereignty over Taiwan have heightened tensions in the Asia-Pacific region.
“We’re going to show the people of the Philippines and the world that we’ve gotten better and we’re never going to stop doing so,” said Lieutenant General William Jurney, commander of US Marine Corps Forces, Pacific, at the opening ceremony in Manila. “When we get better, the Philippines gets stronger, safer, and more secure.”
Amid China’s increasing influence, the United States has been strengthening alliances with countries in the Asia-Pacific, including the Philippines. Washington and Manila have deepened their defence cooperation since Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos took office in 2022.
The Philippine Coast Guard is participating in Balikatan for the first time following several incidents between its vessels and the China Coast Guard, which patrols reefs off the Philippine coast.
During the combined training, armed recapturing operations will be simulated on an island in Palawan province, which is the closest major landmass in the Philippines to the disputed Spratly Islands. Less than 300 kilometers (180 miles) from Taiwan, in the northern provinces of Cagayan and Batanes, there will be drills akin to this.
Additionally, the exercises will cover information warfare, maritime security, and integrated air and missile defence.
Although the United States has deployed Standard Missile-6 (SM-6) guided missiles to the Philippines for Balikatan, Philippine Colonel Michael Logico emphasized that these weapons will not be used during the drills.
China’s foreign ministry has warned the Philippines against “sliding down the wrong path” and charged that the US is “stoking military confrontation.”
The exercises, scheduled until May 10, involve approximately 11,000 American and 5,000 Filipino troops, along with Australian and French military personnel. France, participating in Balikatan for the first time, will deploy a warship for joint exercises with Philippine and US vessels.
Fourteen countries from Asia and Europe will participate as observers.
General Romeo Brawner, Philippine military chief, described Balikatan as an “extraordinary opportunity” to enhance collaborations with friends, partners, and allies, emphasizing the vital role of cooperation in ensuring global security.
“Cooperation and military-to-military collaboration play vital roles in ensuring a safer global community for generations to come,” Brawner added.
