Philippines, US kick off major joint military drills

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Agencies
22 Apr 2024 08:22

The drills will involve around 11,000 American and 5,000 Filipino troops, as well as Australian and French military personnel.

Philippines exercise director for Balikatan Major General Marvin Licudine (L) and US exercise director for Balikatan Lieutenant General William Jurney (R) unfurl the exercise flag during the opening ceremony of the 'Balikatan' joint military exercise at the military headquarters in Quezon City, suburban Manila on April 22, 2024. (Photo by JAM STA ROSA/AFP)

Thousands of Filipino and American troops kicked off Monday joint military drills that will go beyond the Philippines' territorial waters in a first.

The annual drills – codenamed Balikatan, or "shoulder to shoulder" in Tagalog – will be concentrated in the northern and western parts of the archipelago nation, near the potential flashpoints of the South China Sea and Taiwan.

China claims almost the entire waterway, a key route for international trade, and also considers Taiwan to be part of its territory.

"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," Lieutenant General William Jurney, commander of US Marine Corps Forces, Pacific, said at the opening ceremony in Manila.

"When we get better the Philippines gets stronger, safer and more secure."

In an attempt to counter Chinese influence, the United States has been reinforcing 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 took office in 2022.

The Philippines' proximity to the South China Sea and Taiwan makes it a key partner for the United States in the event of a confrontation with China.

"The purpose of armed forces, why we exist, is really to prepare for war," Philippine Colonel Michael Logico told reporters ahead of the drills.

"There's no sugarcoating it... for us not to prepare, that's a disservice to the country."

The Philippine Coast Guard will join Balikatan for the first time following several confrontations between its vessels and the China Coast Guard.

The United States has deployed its Standard Missile-6 (SM-6) guided missiles to the Philippines for Balikatan, but Logico claimed the weapons would not be used in the drills.

China's Foreign Ministry has accused the United States of "stoking military confrontation" and warned the Philippines to "stop sliding down the wrong path."

The drills, which will run until May 10, will involve around 11,000 American and 5,000 Filipino troops, as well as Australian and French military personnel.

France, which is participating in Balikatan for the first time, will deploy a warship that will take part in a joint exercise with Philippine and US vessels. Fourteen countries in Asia and Europe will join as observers.

Logico revealed that the drills will go beyond the Philippines' territorial waters, which extend about 22 kilometers from its coastline.