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The annual joint military exercise Balikatan between the U.S. and Philippine military began on the 22nd in the South China Sea, where military tensions are escalating over the sovereignty of the Spratly Islands (known in China as Nansha Islands).
According to foreign media such as AFP, the Balikatan, which started today, involves 16,770 troops from both countries and will run for about three weeks until the 10th of next month.
This year’s exercise is the first in the South China Sea outside Philippine territorial waters since Balikatan began in 1991. Some training locations correspond to the high seas where China claims sovereignty.
The exercise mainly involves scenarios such as recapturing Philippine islands near Taiwan and the Spratly Islands in the South China Sea, which a hypothetical enemy has seized, and sinking enemy warships. Essentially, the exercise is conducted assuming China is the hypothetical enemy. However, the Philippine military clarified that this exercise is “a special opportunity to enhance cooperation with allied countries” and is not directed at any specific country. However, the Philippine military clarified that this exercise represents “a special opportunity to enhance cooperation with allied countries” and is not directed at any specific nation.
In addition to the U.S. and the Philippines, Australia and France are participating in some of the exercises. Fourteen countries, including South Korea, Japan, India, Thailand, New Zealand, and Germany, are also observing.
Lieutenant General William Jurney, commander of the U.S. Marine Corps Pacific, said at the opening ceremony of Balikatan at the military headquarters in Quezon City, Manila, “We aim to demonstrate to the people of the Philippines and the world that our bilateral relations have advanced, and we are committed to sustaining this momentum. Consequently, the Philippines will become a more robust and safer nation.
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