Philippines, the United States starts the annual war game at a location facing regional flashpoints
go through Kenneth Christiane L. Basilio, reporter
About 14,000 Filipino and American soldiers held their annual combat exercises in the Philippines on Monday, with the war game going to be held near key locations facing flashpoints in areas such as the South China Sea and Taiwan.
The Balikatan (shoulder to shoulder) exercise will last three weeks until May 9 and will showcase a range of weapons including the Navy Expeditionary Ship Intercept System (NMESS) anti-ship missile system and the High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS).
Military forces from Australia, Canada, France, Japan, South Korea and the United Kingdom will also participate in the exercise, while a statement from the Philippines military said 16 other countries, including Malaysia and Singapore, will serve as observers.
“We will train shoulders sideways if required to fight shoulder to shoulder and shoulder to shoulder,” said James F. Glynn, director of American practice, during the opening ceremony of the Philippine Military Master near Philippine Capital.
The Balikatan exercise began in 1991 and has evolved into Southeast Asia’s premier combat rehearsal as the Philippines and the United States sought to strengthen security cooperation and enhance interoperability of force in response to China’s growing confidence in the region.
The South China Sea has become a flashpoint in Southeast Asia as China continues to claim sovereignty throughout the sea, a crucial global trade route that is also considered rich in submarine gas and oil deposits.
Philippine and Chinese forces clashed repeatedly among competitive claims at sea, and tensions revolved around controversial maritime features such as the Sprat Islands and Scarborough Shoals.
“More than 14,000 participants and 20 countries invest in the current signature drill, which is committed to maintaining a free and open Indo-Pacific region and ensuring a defense of the Philippines,” Mr Green said. “Nothing builds bonds faster than a shared adversity.”
Beijing also claims Taiwan’s own territory and regularly performs air and naval military exercises, putting Taipei in a state of war. China has not ruled out military forces on the annexation of the island, putting its 23 million citizens and the world's most advanced semiconductor factories at risk.
About 9,000 U.S. soldiers and 5,000 Philippine troops will participate in the exercise.
After the opening ceremony, Mr. Green told reporters that Taiwan’s invasion was not “consisting of a free and open South China Sea.” Philippines – The US exercise is designed to address the broader “regional security challenges” in the South China Sea, rather than the potential Taiwan conflict.
Philippine Major General Francisco F. Lorenzofing.
Mr Green said the U.S. military will deploy advanced missile systems for the exercise, including mobile anti-fleet missile systems, portable artillery rocket systems, medium-range capability missile batteries and short-range air defense platforms.
“[We will] New features are introduced such as the Navy Expeditionary Ship Intercept System, the Marine Air Defense Integrated System (MADIS), and the Army's medium-sized capabilities in Typhon missiles. ” he added.
In late March, U.S. Secretary of Defense Peter Brian Hegseth vowed to help the Philippines arm the Philippines by deploying advanced weapons such as Nmesis and unmanned seacraft.
Outside military headquarters, militants led by Bayan Muna burned the United States FloridaAG protest war game. According to a banner held by protesters, another urged the United States not to drag Filipinos into the war with China to “stop militarization.”
“Reliable combat power”
Meanwhile, medium-sized missile systems can launch missiles that may reach mainland China. It was flew to the Philippines last year's Balikatan exercise, which has since attracted sharp criticism from Beijing.
“[These] Here all can bring together our capabilities to showcase and reassure the region that, despite our continued commitment to peace, we also have reliable combat power… to maintain a free and open Indo-Pacific. ” said Mr Green.
Romeo S. Brauna, Philippine Armed Forces.
“Our actions cover complex joint efforts, including missile defense, anti-land field fires and human tank strike capabilities, as well as humanitarian efforts and infrastructure projects that benefit directly from our local communities,” he said. “These initiatives are more than just showing power. They represent partnerships in the action.”
This year's exercises will focus mainly on the northern Philippines and its west coast.
According to a lecture notes, two military exercises are on the Philippines' main Palawan island near the South China Sea, and another in the province of Cagayan, facing Taiwan, will see forced rehearsals how to exclude invasions and test the Philippines' military coastal defense system.
United Philippines – U.S. forces will also secure critical infrastructure by ensuring critical infrastructure in the western and northern Philippines, including ports, straits and strategic islands, aiming to enhance military strategies to protect important maritime assets in conflict to protect military strategies to ensure critical infrastructure to ensure critical infrastructure.
They will also hold naval exercises with Japan at the Western Philippines Sea, with Philippine and Chinese forces repeatedly clashing. A retired Philippine Navy ship will sink in another workout in the same waters.
Meanwhile, the Navy of Southern China Theater said Philippine frigates “illegally invaded” the waters of Scarborough's shallows on Sunday, “seriously violating” China's sovereignty and laws.
The Navy said in a statement late Sunday that the Navy monitored the ships and drove them away. It said it urged the Philippines to stop “infringement and provocation” immediately.
The Philippines did not immediately respond to a request for comment at the Chinese embassy. – and Reuters
