US and Philippine forces launched their largest-ever combat exercises on Tuesday,
across the disputed South China Sea and Taiwan Strait,
where Washington has repeatedly warned China of its increasingly aggressive actions.
The former treaty allies' annual drills called
Balikatan
, "shoulder to shoulder" (in Filipino), will run through April 28
and involve more than 17,600 military personnel.
It is the latest demonstration of
American firepower in Asia
, as the Biden administration
strengthens an arc of alliances
to better counter China, including in a potential confrontation over Taiwan, a democratic island that Beijing claims as its own.
That dovetails with efforts by the Philippines under President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to
defend its territorial interests in the South China Sea,
which China claims virtually in its entirety.
Marcos pushes for joint military exercises with the US or allows rotating batches of US forces to
remain in additional Philippine military camps under a 2014 defense pact.
The exercises for the first time will include
a live-fire maneuver
in the South China Sea, claimed almost entirely by Beijing.
This deployment comes just one day after China concluded three days of military exercises around Taiwan.
Beijing considers Taiwan to be part of its territory and the exercises were in protest of a visit to the United States by Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen.
Filipino and American soldiers sing the anthems of each of their countries.
Photo: Ted Aljibe / AFP
The Chinese drills officially ended on Monday, but Taiwan again detected several Chinese warships and aircraft near its territory on Tuesday.
Balikatan
The two-week Balikatan exercises will see military helicopters landing on the northern tip of the Philippine island of Luzon,
nearly 300 km from Taiwan.
"To protect our sovereign territory, we must prepare to retake a seized island," Colonel Michael Logico, a spokesman for the Philippine armed forces, told reporters after the ceremony to kick off the exercises at a Manila military camp.
The Philippine director for the exercises, Major General Marvin Licudine, speaks with his US counterpart. Photo: Ted Aljibe / AFP
It is the first time that these exercises have been organized under the presidency of Ferdinand Marcos, who
wants to strengthen his ties with Washington
after distancing himself from his predecessor Rodrigo Duterte.
In recent months, the two allies agreed to resume joint maritime patrols in the South China Sea and struck a deal to
expand the US military presence
in the archipelago.
US troops will be allowed to use four other Philippine military bases, including a naval base not far from Taiwan.
The proximity of the Philippines to Taiwan
The Philippines' proximity to Taiwan may make this island country a
crucial US ally
in the event of a Chinese invasion.
China considers Taiwan, an island of democratic and self-government, as part of its territory and advocates retaking it in the future.
On Tuesday at their joint press conference the two allies
did not mention this issue.
Marine Corps Gen. Eric Austin (right) speaks during the announcement of the exercises.
Photo: EFE
The new pact between Manila and Washington
angered China,
which accused the US power of "endangering regional peace and stability."
"Countries in this part of the world should preserve their strategic independence, and firmly resist the mentality of cold war and confrontation between blocs," Chinese Ambassador to Manila Huang Xilian said last week.
"Balikatan" will mobilize
12,200 Americans, 5,400 Filipinos
and about
a hundred Australians,
almost double the number a year ago.
Protests in the Philippines over the presence of US troops in the country.
Photo: EFE
The maneuvers include
amphibious landing tests
on the
island of Palawan
, close to an archipelago claimed by Beijing and Manila, and the use of
US
Patriot and HIMARS missiles .
It also includes
a live-fire maneuver in the
South China Sea, less than 300 kilometers east of the Scarborough Reef, over which Beijing and Manila are in dispute.
"Through this exercise, the Philippine and United States forces will enhance our interoperability, increase our skills and complement our capabilities through collaboration," said Marine Corps 1st Air Wing Commander, Maj. Gen. Eric austen.
At a ceremony in Manila, Austen added that the exercises would ensure that "we are prepared to respond together to the challenges of the real world."
AP AND AFP
ap
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