Philippine-US annual military drills will be biggest ever, says official

THE PHILIPPINES and United States will carry out their biggest ever joint military drills next month, a spokesman for the annual war games said on Tuesday, highlighting improved ties with the Western power under President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. 

This year’s “Balikatan” or ‘shoulder-to-shoulder’ drills also come against the backdrop of what the Philippines calls “aggressive” Chinese actions in the South China Sea.

The drills, held from April 11 to 28, will see 17,600 participants from both sides, including about 12,000 from the US, and “live fire exercises into the water” for the first time, according to Colonel Michael Logico, director of the Philippine military’s training center and spokesman for the event. “This is officially the largest Balikatan exercise.”

Previously, the biggest joint drills were undertaken in 2015, with more than 11,000 troops participating.

The larger-scale drills follow Mr. Marcos’ decision last month to expand the United States’ access to his country’s military bases, which China said undermines regional stability.

Regarding the possibility of the joint exercises further infuriating China, Mr. Logico said: “We have the absolute, inalienable right to defend our territory. We are here to show that we are combat-ready.” 

The Balikatan exercises are to be carried out across several provinces, including Palawan, which is near the South China Sea. They will also see more than 100 participants from the Australian defense force, though their participation would be limited to “smaller land-based exercises,” Mr. Logico said. — Reuters