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The Philippines and the United States began the largest joint military exercises in their history in the Southeast Asian country on April 11, at a time when longtime allies are trying to counter China’s growing influence in the region.
Some 18,000 US and Filipino soldiers will take part in the exercises, which will last two weeks. For the first time there will be live fire in the South China Sea, which Beijing claims almost entirely. One of the exercises involves the landing of military helicopters on a Philippine island located off the northern tip of the main island of Luzon, some 300 km from Taiwan.
The case of Taiwan
The start of the annual “Balikatan” exercises, which means “side by side” in Filipino, comes after a three-day military operation completed on Monday, April 10 by Beijing, in which targeted attacks and an encirclement of the autonomous and democratic island of Taiwan, which China considers part of its territory.
In fact, Chinese warships and planes are still in the vicinity of Taiwan on April 11, Taipei reported. The proximity to Taiwan could make the Philippines a key US partner in the event of a Chinese invasion of the island.
Improve relations with the United States
For the first time, the annual exercises are taking place under Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., who is seeking to improve relations with Washington, damaged by his predecessor, Rodrigo Duterte.
“Through this exercise, the Philippine and U.S. forces will strengthen our interoperability, enhance our skills, and complement our capabilities through collaboration, allowing us to be ready to face the world’s challenges together,” Gen. Eric said Tuesday. Austin, of the U.S. Marine Corps 1st Air Unit (1st MAW), at the opening ceremony in Manila.
In recent months, Manila and Washington have reactivated their joint maritime patrols in the South China Sea and reached an agreement to increase the US military presence in the Philippines. Under the agreement, US troops will be able to use four other Philippine military bases, including a naval base near Taiwan.
Twice as many troops as in 2022
The Philippine defense and foreign ministers are scheduled to meet their US counterparts in Washington. Some 12,200 US soldiers, 5,400 Filipinos and just over 100 Australians have been mobilized to participate in the exercises, double the number last year. They will last two weeks.
“In order to protect our sovereign territory, we need to practice reclaiming an island that would have been taken from us,” Philippine armed forces spokesman Colonel Michael Logico told reporters after a ceremony marking the start of the maneuvers in a Manila military camp.
The Americans will use their Patriot missiles, considered one of the best air defense systems in the world, as part of the exercises. The exercises will improve “tactics, techniques and procedures” for a wide range of military operations, Philippine Army spokesman Colonel Medel Aguilar said. In early April, the Philippines made four new military bases available to the United States, including a naval base near Taiwan, drawing the ire of Beijing.
