On Thursday, Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos warned he would not accept any “offensive activities” from Philippine facilities that allow US military usage.
Last Monday, the Philippines declared that it would allow US Marines to utilise four new facilities in addition to the five already agreed upon in the 2014 Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement. (EDCA). The pact allows US forces to post at each location and keep defensive equipment and supplies.
Largest joint military exercises
The United States and the Philippines have begun their largest combined military exercises in decades, involving nearly 17,600 military personnel.
Balikatan, Tagalog for shoulder-to-shoulder, will continue until April 28 and include live-fire exercises, such as a boat-sinking missile assault in the South China Sea and Taiwan Strait. Experts view the exercises as a challenge to China’s regional dominance.
At the opening ceremony in Manila on Tuesday, Major-General Eric Austin, commander of the First US Marine Aircraft Wing, stated that through this exercise, Philippine and US forces would hone their interoperability, increase their proficiency, and complement their capabilities through collaboration, ensuring they are ready to face real-world challenges together.
The US has been developing its Indo-Pacific allies to oppose China’s aggressive moves, notably those against Taiwan.
There are 12,200 US military personnel, 5,400 Filipino forces, and 111 Australian soldiers participating in the drills.
According to US and Philippine military authorities, warships, fighter planes, Patriot missiles, HIMARS rocket launchers, and anti-tank Javelins would be displayed.
The Balikatan exercises will also put the partners to the test in terms of combined arms live fire, information and intelligence sharing, communication between manoeuvre units, logistics operations, and amphibious operations.
Helicopters will descend on a Philippine island approximately 300 kilometres (180 miles) from Taiwan, off the northern tip of Luzon, the main island.
According to Philippine military sources, the drills were conducted to strengthen the country’s coastline defences and were not directed against any one country.
The participating countries are not agitating anybody by merely exercising, said Col. Michael Logico, a spokesman for Balikatan in the Philippines, calling it a sort of deterrence.
Deterrence is when “we discourage other parties from invading us,” he explained.
Washington and Beijing are at odds
The manoeuvres come after China conducted a three-day military exercise that simulated targeted strikes and a blockade of Taiwan, which Beijing regards as part of its territory.
A live-fire simulation in the South China Sea, which China claims almost exclusively, will be part of the Balikatan drills.
