Following the Chinese exercises, the United States and the Philippines launch the largest military exercises ever near Taiwan

U.S. and Philippine forces launched their largest combat exercises ever on Tuesday, through the disputed South China Sea and the Taiwan Strait, where Washington has repeatedly warned China of its increasingly aggressive actions.

Called the annual exercises of former treaty allies Balikatan“shoulder to shoulder” (in Filipino), will run until April 28 and will involve more than 17,600 soldiers.

It is the most recent demonstration of the American firepower in Asiaby the Biden administration strengthens an arc of alliances to better counter China, even in a possible confrontation over Taiwan, a democratic island that Beijing claims as its own.

This dovetails with efforts in the Philippines under President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. a defend its territorial interests in the South China Sea, which China claims in its entirety.

Marcos pushes for joint military exercises with the US or allows groups of US forces to rotate remain in other Philippine military camps under a 2014 defense pact.

First time exercises will include a maneuver with live fire 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 part of its territory and the exercises were to protest a visit to the United States by Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen.

Chinese exercises 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 land on the northern tip of the Philippine island of Luzon, nearly 300km from Taiwan.

“To protect our sovereign territory, we must prepare to retake a conquered island,” Colonel Michael Logico, a spokesman for the Philippine Armed Forces, told reporters after the opening ceremony of exercises at a military camp in Manila.

It is the first time that these exercises have been organized under the presidency of Ferdinand Marcos, who he wants to strengthen his ties with Washington after the distance from his predecessor Rodrigo Duterte.

In recent months, the two allies agreed to resume joint maritime patrols in the South China Sea and entered into a pact expand 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 proximity of the Philippines to Taiwan could turn this island country into a crucial ally of the United States in the event of a Chinese invasion.

China regards Taiwan, a democratic and self-governed island, as part of its territory and supports its recapture in the future.

The two allies held their joint press conference on Tuesday They didn’t mention this problem.

The new pact between Manila and Washington angry china, which accused US power of “endangering regional peace and stability”.

“Countries in this part of the world should preserve their strategic independence and steadfastly resist the mentality of cold war and inter-bloc confrontation,” Chinese Ambassador to Manila Huang Xilian said last week.

“Balikatan” will mobilize 12,200 Americans, 5,400 Filipinos and around a hundred Australians, almost double from a year ago.

Maneuvers include amphibious landing tests In the Palawan Islandnear an archipelago claimed by Beijing and Manila, and the use of Patriot missiles and HIMARS Americans.

also includes a live-fire maneuver at sea southern China, less than 300 kilometers east of the Scarborough Reef, for which Beijing and Manila are in the running.

“Through this exercise, Philippine and U.S. forces will enhance our interoperability, increase our capabilities, and complement our capabilities through collaboration,” said Marine Corps 1st Air Wing Commander Maj. Gen. Eric Austen.

In a ceremony in Manila, Austen added that the exercises would ensure that “we are ready to respond together to real-world challenges”.

AP AND AFP

ap