22-4-2024 (MANILA) Joint military exercises between thousands of Filipino and American troops will commence in the Philippines on Monday, amid concerns over Beijing’s increasing assertiveness in the region. The annual drills, known as Balikatan, meaning “shoulder to shoulder” in Tagalog, will primarily take place in the northern and western parts of the country, near the South China Sea and Taiwan, both potential flashpoints. China asserts its territorial claims over the vast majority of the South China Sea and considers Taiwan as part of its territory.
In response to China’s growing influence, the United States has been strengthening alliances with countries in the Asia-Pacific region, including the Philippines. The two nations are treaty allies and have deepened their defense cooperation since the inauguration of Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos in 2022. Despite the Philippines being relatively underarmed, its geographical proximity to the South China Sea and Taiwan positions it as a crucial partner for the United States in the event of a conflict with China.
Colonel Michael Logico of the Philippines emphasized the purpose of the armed forces in preparing for war and described any failure to prepare as a disservice to the country. The Philippine Coast Guard will participate in Balikatan for the first time, following several confrontations between its vessels and those of the China Coast Guard, which patrols reefs off the Philippine coast.
One of the highlights of the joint drills will be a simulated armed recapture of an island in Palawan province, the nearest major Philippine landmass to the disputed Spratly Islands in the South China Sea. Similar exercises will also occur in the northern provinces of Cagayan and Batanes, both located less than 300 kilometers (180 miles) from Taiwan. Additionally, the training will cover areas such as information warfare, maritime security, and integrated air and missile defense.
As part of the exercise, the United States has deployed its Standard Missile-6 (SM-6) guided missiles to the Philippines. However, Colonel Logico clarified that these weapons would not be used during the drills. China’s foreign ministry has accused the United States of exacerbating military confrontation and cautioned the Philippines to avoid straying from the correct path.
The exercises, scheduled to run until May 10, will involve approximately 11,000 American and 5,000 Filipino troops, alongside military personnel from Australia and France. France will also contribute a warship to participate in a joint exercise with Philippine and US vessels. Fourteen countries from Asia and Europe will observe the drills.
In a statement, Lieutenant General William Jurney, commander of US Marine Corps Forces, Pacific, highlighted that Balikatan goes beyond being just an exercise, emphasizing its significance as a tangible demonstration of the shared commitment between the nations. He emphasized that these joint exercises are crucial for regional peace and stability.
