The Philippines and the US launch annual joint military exercises

MANILA: Thousands of Philippine and US troops began joint military exercises in the Philippines on Monday, as Beijing’s increasing assertiveness in the region raises fears of conflict. The annual exercises – called Balikatan, or “shoulder to shoulder” in Tagalog – will be concentrated in the northern and western parts of the archipelago, near the potential flashpoints of the South China Sea and Taiwan.

China claims virtually the entire waterway, a key route for international trade, and also considers self-ruled Taiwan part of its territory. “We are going to show the people of the Philippines and the world that we have gotten better and we will never stop,” Lt. Gen. William Jurney, commander of US Marine Corps Forces, Pacific, said at the meeting. opening ceremony in Manila. “As we improve, the Philippines will become stronger, safer and more secure.”

In response to China’s growing influence, the United States has strengthened alliances with countries in the Asia-Pacific region, including the Philippines. Washington and Manila are treaty allies and have deepened their defense cooperation since Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos came to power in 2022. Although the Philippines is poorly armed, its proximity to the South China Sea and Taiwan would make it an important partner for the United States in the fight. case of conflict with China.

“The purpose of the armed forces, why we exist, is actually to prepare for war,” Philippine Col. Michael Logico told reporters ahead of the exercises. .” The Philippine Coast Guard will join Balikatan for the first time after several clashes between its ships and the Chinese Coast Guard, which patrols the reefs off the coast of the Philippines. The joint exercises included a simulation of an armed reconquest of an island in Palawan province, the closest major Philippine landmass to the hotly contested Spratly Islands in the South China Sea. The same exercise will be held in the northern provinces of Cagayan and Batanes, both less than 300 km from Taiwan.

Just like last year, a ship will sink off the northern province of Ilocos Norte. Other training will cover information warfare, maritime security and integrated air and missile defense. The United States has sent its Standard Missile-6 (SM-6) guided missiles to the Philippines for Balikatan, but Logico said the weapons would not be used in the exercises. China’s Foreign Ministry has accused the United States of “fomenting military confrontation” and warned the Philippines to “stop going astray.”

‘Safer global community’

The exercises, which will last until May 10, involve about 11,000 American and 5,000 Philippine troops, as well as Australian and French military personnel. France, participating for the first time in Balikatan, will deploy a warship that will take part in a joint exercise with Philippine and American ships. Fourteen countries in Asia and Europe will join as observers.

In another first, the exercises will take place outside the Philippines’ territorial waters, which extend about 14 miles (22 kilometers) off the coastline, Logico said. Philippine military chief Gen. Romeo Brawner said Balikatan was an “extraordinary opportunity for us to deepen our cooperation with friends, partners and allies.” “Collaboration and military-to-military cooperation play a critical role in ensuring a more secure global community for generations to come,” Brawner said. said. —AFP