18-4-2024 (MANILA) In a move that underscores the shifting regional dynamics and growing concerns over territorial disputes, Philippine and U.S. forces are gearing up for joint military exercises that will simulate retaking enemy-occupied islands in strategic locations facing Taiwan and the South China Sea. The annual “Balikatan” or “shoulder-to-shoulder” drills, set to commence on April 22 and run through May 10, will involve a massive contingent of 16,700 soldiers focused on maritime security, air and missile defense, dynamic missile strikes, cyber defense, and information operations.
Significantly, this year’s drills will mark a departure from previous iterations, as Michael Logico, a Philippine army colonel overseeing the exercises, confirmed that “it will be the first time the maritime exercises are carried out beyond Philippine territorial waters.” This strategic shift comes against the backdrop of China’s increasingly assertive behavior in the South China Sea and the Taiwan Strait, two flashpoints that have heightened tensions between Beijing and Washington.
While the drills are aimed at improving interoperability between the two allied militaries, they have drawn a sharp rebuke from China’s foreign ministry. Spokesperson Lin Jian issued a stern warning, stating that the Philippines should be “sober enough to realize” that bringing in extra-territorial forces to “show off their force in the South China Sea and provoke confrontation will only aggravate tensions and undermine regional stability.”
“Attempts to bring in external forces to safeguard its so-called security will only lead to greater insecurity for itself,” Lin cautioned, urging both countries to refrain from provocative actions.
According to Logico, the joint U.S. and Philippine forces will simulate retaking islands occupied by hostile forces in the northernmost islands of the Philippines, in close proximity to Taiwan, as well as in the western Palawan province, which faces the contentious South China Sea.
Adding an extra layer of international cooperation, a small French contingent will join the drills for the first time since their inception in 1991, deploying a frigate that will sail jointly with Philippine and U.S. naval vessels in Manila’s exclusive economic zone in the South China Sea.
The exercises will also draw observers from around 14 nations, including Japan, India, and countries from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and the European Union, underscoring the broader regional implications and interest in these drills.
Echoing last year’s exercises, the upcoming drills will attempt to sink a mock enemy warship in the northern city of Laoag in Ilocos province, further amplifying the realistic nature of the simulations.
As the Philippines shifts its focus towards external defense amidst growing regional tensions, these joint military drills with the United States and other allies represent a significant step in bolstering its defensive capabilities and interoperability. However, the exercises also risk further inflaming tensions with China, which views such actions as provocative and a challenge to its territorial claims in the South China Sea.
