On April 22, the United States and the Philippines initiated their 39th annual Balikatan (“shoulder-to-shoulder” in Tagalog) military exercises, marking the most extensive collaboration between the two nations to date. This year’s exercises are scheduled to run until May 10 and involve over 16,000 military personnel from both countries, along with the participation of the French navy.
The joint exercises include a variety of military operations such as live-fire missile launches, boat-sinking drills, and for the first time, a joint sail outside of the Philippines’ territorial waters. According to U.S. exercise director Lt. Gen. William Jurney, the drills have been significantly expanded in scope, scale, and complexity to enhance mutual defense and regional security capabilities.
This show of allied military strength occurs against the backdrop of ongoing disputes in the South China Sea, where China has asserted sovereignty over almost the entire area—a claim that was rejected by an international tribunal in The Hague in 2016. In recent interactions, Chinese coast guard vessels have used aggressive tactics against Philippine navy and civilian ships, which has led to several confrontations.
Chinese officials have voiced strong objections to the exercises, particularly criticizing the involvement of external powers like the U.S. and France in what they consider a regional matter. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Lin Jian expressed concerns last week that the exercises could exacerbate tensions and destabilize the region. Specifically, Lin criticized the movement of a U.S. missile system to the northern Philippines, describing it as a provocation and a unilateral military action at China’s doorstep.
Amid these geopolitical tensions, Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has sought to strengthen ties with Washington, a pivot from his predecessor Rodrigo Duterte’s more Beijing-friendly stance. This realignment includes enhanced military cooperation under the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA), allowing for increased U.S. military presence in strategically significant areas of the Philippines.
The exercises also follow a trilateral summit hosted by U.S. President Joe Biden, involving Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and President Marcos, where commitments were reaffirmed to maintain regional stability and uphold a “rules-based international order.”
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