Big US-Philippines drills begin

The United States and the Philippines opened Balikatan on April 20, bringing more than 17,000 troops into one of their biggest joint combat exercises yet. (usnews.com) The drills run for 19 days, through May 8, and include mock battle scenarios and live-fire maneuvers in areas facing the South China Sea and the Taiwan Strait. About 10,000 of the troops are American, and 17 more countries are attending as observers. (usnews.com) (thediplomat.com) Japan joined this year as an active participant, not just an observer, and sent about 1,400 personnel. Japan’s Joint Staff Office said the deployment includes ships, aircraft and Type 88 surface-to-ship missile systems, and will involve weapons training on Philippine territory under the countries’ Reciprocal Access Agreement. (mod.go.jp) (thediplomat.com) That marks a wider shift in Manila’s security ties. Canada, France and New Zealand are also taking part as active participants for the first time, reflecting the Philippines’ push to build more defense links as confrontations with China have intensified in nearby waters. (thediplomat.com) (newsbreak.com) The geography is part of the message. Reuters reported that counter-landing live-fire drills are set for Zambales province facing the South China Sea, while maritime strike drills are planned on Itbayat, the Philippines’ northernmost island, about 155 kilometers from Taiwan. (newsbreak.com) Philippine armed forces chief Gen. Romeo Brawner Jr. said at the opening that the exercise would test readiness “in real-world conditions across all domains.” U.S. Marine Lt. Gen. Christian Wortman said Balikatan had “no target nation” in mind and called Washington’s commitment to the Philippines “unwavering.” (newsbreak.com) (usnews.com) Beijing answered with a formal protest. Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun said the Asia-Pacific region needed “peace and tranquillity,” not “external forces” creating division, and warned countries against “tying themselves together on security.” (newsbreak.com) (bworldonline.com) The backdrop is a run of clashes between Chinese and Philippine ships around disputed features in the South China Sea, including Scarborough Shoal. The Philippines says the exercises are part of alliance planning and disaster response, while China says they raise regional tension. (usnews.com) (newsbreak.com) For now, Balikatan is set to keep running through May 8, with allied forces training across air, sea, land, cyber and missile defense missions. The exercise name means “shoulder to shoulder,” and this year’s version is built to show exactly that. (mod.go.jp) (thediplomat.com)