ITBAYAT, Philippines – U.S. Marines and their Filipino counterparts emerged from Black Hawk helicopters during combat exercises Monday in the Philippines’ northernmost island city along the strategic Bashi Channel in southern Taiwan – a flashpoint in the military rivalry between Washington and Beijing.
The demonstration of Allied battle readiness in Itbayat, Batanes province, is part of annual military exercises that began last month, dubbed Balikatan, Tagalog for “shoulder to shoulder,” and involving more than 16,000 American and Filipino troops.
This year’s exercises by the treaty’s longtime allies — the largest yet — are intended to deter potential aggression. They come in the context of China’s increasingly assertive actions in the disputed South China Sea, where Chinese and Philippine coast guards and accompanying ships have had several increasingly tense confrontations since last year.
More than 250 French and Australian forces are also taking part, along with observers from several allied and security partner countries, led by Japan and European countries. Training, which began on April 22, ends this week.
In Monday’s simulated battle scenario, American and Philippine forces took up positions at the airfield, surrounded by low hills, as three Army CH-47 Chinook helicopters landed to deliver combat supplies.
Marine First Lieutenant Annie Pentaleri said aerial combat reconnaissance and counter-reconnaissance exercises were also planned in the remote region. The Associated Press was among a small group of journalists invited to watch the maneuvers.
“We are absolutely ready for battle and that is what we train for day in and day out,” said Marine Maj. Robert Patterson. “It is important to improve interoperability with our Philippine counterparts.”
Washington and Manila say the exercises are not targeted at any country and are crucial to improving emergency response in the Philippines, one of the most disaster-prone countries in the world.
However, this year’s exercises focus on territorial defense and are being carried out mainly on two of the most sensitive fault lines in the regional rivalry between China and the United States: the disputed South China Sea and the Bashi Channel.
The important waterway between Taiwan and the Philippines, a major commercial channel loaded with international submarine cables, has been closely watched and guarded by Chinese and American forces. China considers Taiwan a part of its territory, which it could annex by force if necessary.
In a phone call last month, Chinese President Xi Jinping stressed to President Joe Biden that Beijing will not tolerate separatist activities by Taiwanese independence forces, as well as “indulgence and foreign support,” an apparent reference to Washington’s support for the island.
Biden has raised concerns about China’s actions in the South China Sea, including efforts to prevent the Philippines, which Washington is obligated by treaty to defend, from resupplying its forces at the fiercely contested Second Thomas Shoal.
Derek Grossman, senior defense analyst at the RAND Corporation, said the deterrence message was important. Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s decision to allow U.S. forces indefinite access to two Philippine air and naval bases in Cagayan province near Batanes under a 2014 defense pact “would likely enhance the military’s capabilities.” of the US to intervene in a Taiwan contingency at a more opportune time,” he said.
“Right now, a big concern is that the U.S. simply won’t get there in time,” Grossman added.
The Balikatan exercises included live-fire exercises in the disputed South China Sea during joint U.S., French and Philippine naval voyages. An aircraft also dropped food and other supplies on a disputed island occupied by Philippine forces as part of maneuvers in the disputed waters.
Separately on Monday, U.S. and Philippine forces practiced pushing back invading forces in the coastal province of Ilocos Norte, firing missiles and artillery rounds at floating targets at sea. The northwestern province faces the South China Sea.
“It was a great success, the weapons were correct,” said Marine Lt. Gen. Michael Cederholm.
In escalating high-sea encounters in disputed areas, Chinese coast guard ships resorted to water cannons, blockades and other dangerous maneuvers that left Philippine navy personnel injured and supply boats damaged. The Biden administration has repeatedly warned that the US is obligated to defend the Philippines, its oldest treaty ally in Asia, if it is attacked.
China strongly criticized the exercises, saying the Philippines and countries outside Asia are joining forces against Beijing, warning that the exercises could lead to confrontation and undermine regional stability.
Before the exercises, China specifically objected to the transport of a US ground-launched missile system to the northern Philippines. No missiles were to be fired, as the aim was merely to familiarize military participants with high-tech weaponry in a tropical environment.
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian expressed China’s great concern over the deployment of the missile system “on China’s doorstep.”
This story originally appeared on ABCNews.go.com read the full story
