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The Philippines military is making common cause with US forces in the Pacific. The extensive military exercise is being conducted in the vulnerable South China Sea.
The military exercise began on Tuesday, right after China concluded a three-day military drill in Taiwan.
The military of the United States and the Philippines train together every year, but this year’s exercise is the largest in decades and includes more than 17,600 soldiers, of which over 12,000 are from the United States.
The South China Sea has also become a region marked by controversy since China expanded its presence along the strategic shipping route. Several countries border the sea, including Vietnam, Indonesia and the Philippines in particular.
– The relationship that we have, and that we continue to build on through this exercise, means that we can act quickly in the event of a conflict, a crisis or if humanitarian support is needed in the event of a natural disaster, says Major General Eric Austin to the American news agency AP.
The Philippines and the United States entered into an expanded military pact in 2014.
Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. wants to highlight the country’s military strength vis-à-vis Beijing. The president himself will attend part of the exercise when a warship will be sunk.
– We will fire on targets that are closer than those that we usually face in the event of a threat, which is an enemy action coming from the sea. In doing so, we show that we are combat-ready, says Colonel Michael Logico, spokesperson for the Philippine Armed Forces.
The exercise, called balikatan (shoulder to shoulder), runs until April 28.