Latest news with #Balikatan
Newsweek
15-07-2025
- Politics
- Newsweek
US-allied Philippines Gears Up for China War
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. The Philippines has been working to strengthen its military ties with other regional players concerned about China's expansive activities in the South China Sea. "It would be hiding from the obvious to say that Taiwan's security will not affect us," Philippine defense chief Gilberto Teodoro told The Washington Post in a recent interview. Recently, the United States' treaty ally has also found common cause with Taiwan, which faces the threat of a possible Chinese invasion. The prospect of such a conflict has left many governments in the Asia-Pacific on edge. Why It Matters Beijing's Chinese Communist Party government claims Taiwan as its territory, though it has never ruled the island, and China's rapid military buildup and coercive actions in the Taiwan Strait have led its neighbor to boost defense spending and order a series of high-profile weapons systems from the U.S., its main arms supplier. The Philippines has also been bolstering its defenses in response to the risk of a regional conflagration and China's expansionist moves within the country's exclusive economic zone. China claims sovereignty over most of the busy South China Sea—claims that overlap with those of the Philippines and several other nations. Philippine pushback under President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has been met with Chinese blockades, ramming, and water cannons that last year left several Filipino service members injured. U.S. soldiers participate in the Balikatan annual U.S.-Philippine joint military exercise in the Zambales province on April 27, 2025. U.S. soldiers participate in the Balikatan annual U.S.-Philippine joint military exercise in the Zambales province on April 27, 2025. Ted Aljibe/AFP via Getty Images What To Know Speaking on condition of anonymity, government officials and advisers from both Taiwan and the Philippines told the newspaper that Philippine academics with close defense ties took part in closed-door forums with top Taiwanese generals to familiarize themselves with Taiwanese security perspectives. Taipei and Manila also dispatched their coast guards on joint patrols in the Bashi Channel between the two sides, a waterway viewed by the U.S. as a strategic chokepoint in any conflict with China. Last month, Philippine navy spokesperson Roy Vincent Trinidad and coast guard official Jay Tarrieala traveled to Taiwan to join experts from 15 governments at a summit that included discussions on countering Chinese hybrid warfare strategies. It was the first high-level Philippine delegation since the Marcos administration lifted a ban on such trips in April. In another sign of growing defense engagement, representatives from Taiwan's navy and marine corps observed U.S., Philippine, and Japanese troops training with a U.S. NMESIS ship-killing missile launcher in the Batanes Islands—a Philippine province closer to southern Taiwan than to Manila. Philippine-U.S. security ties continue to deepen after Washington gained access to four new military sites in the country in 2023, bringing the total to nine. Manila has not confirmed whether these would be available for use in a U.S. defense of Taiwan. China's embassy in Washington, D.C. referred Newsweek to a statement by its embassy in Manila: "We urge the Philippine side to abide by the one-China principle, stop any form of official interaction with the Taiwan authorities, and stop sending wrong signals to 'Taiwan independence' separatist forces," an embassy spokesperson said, adding: "those who play with fire will perish by it." What Happens Next The U.S. and the Philippines share a mutual defense treaty, and Taiwan is home to over 160,000 Filipino migrant workers who would need to be evacuated if an invasion occurred. Philippine officials have said they must prepare for the possibility of such an eventuality. "Because, if something happens to Taiwan, inevitably we will be involved," Philippines armed forces chief Gen. Romeo Brawner said in April. Against this backdrop of regional tensions, the Philippines has launched a decade-long, $35 billion military modernization program that will include the purchase of more capable fighter jets and warships.
GMA Network
10-07-2025
- Politics
- GMA Network
No NMESIS missiles fired during Balikatan 2025
The United States Pacific Fleet on Thursday clarified that there was no Navy-Marine Expeditionary Ship Interdiction System (NMESIS) that was test-fired during the annual joint military drills between Manila and Washington last April. A spokesperson for the US Pacific Fleet refuted an earlier statement by US Navy Admiral Steve Koehler that such a missile system was fired in the Balikatan exercises. 'During the closing remarks of the Pacific Amphibious Leaders Symposium in Manila, Philippines, July 10, US Navy Admiral Steve Koehler, commander, US Pacific Fleet, misspoke when he stated in his speech that the United States test-fired the NMESIS during Balikatan. The NMESIS was deployed during Balikatan and took part in battle drills, but no missiles were fired,' the statement from the US Pacific Fleet read. During the closing ceremony of the Pacific Amphibious Leaders Symposium in Manila, Koehler said that NMESIS was used in a test fire during the joint military exercise held in Luzon. But he did not give further details. NMESIS is a ground-based anti-ship missile system deployed by the United States Marine Corps' (USMC) Marine Littoral Regiments for coastal defense and maritime security operations. The Naval Strike Missile has a range of up to 300 kilometers. The Philippine Marine Corps and the USMC also trained with NMESIS during the Kamandag Exercise in May. The Philippine Navy has said that the NMESIS will remain in the country for future military drills. NMESIS is the second advanced missile system from the US to be present in Philippine territory. —VBL, GMA Integrated News
GMA Network
10-07-2025
- Politics
- GMA Network
NMESIS missiles test-fired in PH during Balikatan 2025
US soldiers check an Avenger Air Defense System during the Balikatan joint military exercises between US and Philippine troops at a naval base in San Antonio, Zambales, April 27, 2025. REUTERS/ Eloisa Lopez The United States' Navy-Marine Expeditionary Ship Interdiction System (NMESIS) was used in a test fire in the Philippines during the two countries' Balikatan Exercise, the US Pacific Fleet said Thursday. 'We test-fired NMESIS missiles, operated amphibious vehicles and HIMARS, and trained with unmanned systems, and conducted full battle tests and real-world scenarios,' US Pacific Fleet commander Admiral Stephen Koehler said in his speech during the closing ceremony of the Pacific Amphibious Leaders Symposium in Manila. However, the US military official did not give more details about the activity. This year's Balikatan was conducted in different areas in the Philippines from April 21 to May 9 with around 17,000 participants. NMESIS is a ground-based anti-ship missile system deployed by the United States Marine Corps' Marine Littoral Regiments for coastal defense and maritime security operations. The Naval Strike Missile has a range of up to 300 kilometers. The missile system was initially deployed to the Philippines in April to be used for Balikatan between US and Filipino forces. NMESIS will remain in the country where it will take part in more exercises, according to the Philippine military. This is the second advanced missile system from the US to be present in Philippine territory. Last March, the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) also welcomed reports on the second deployment of the US Army's Typhon Mid-Range Capability (MRC) missile system in the country.
Miami Herald
08-07-2025
- Politics
- Miami Herald
US Flexes Air Power With Ally in Contested South China Sea
The United States deployed stealth fighter jets to the Philippines-its mutual defense treaty ally-for a joint war game amid increasing Chinese military activity in the South China Sea. The drill, Cope Thunder, comes after China conducted a "combat patrol" around the disputed Scarborough Shoal-located near the Philippines-in the South China Sea last week. Newsweek has reached out to the Chinese Defense Ministry for comment via email. The U.S. signed a mutual defense treaty with the Philippines. This states that an attack on either side-including in the South China Sea, where Manila and Beijing have overlapping sovereignty claims-would prompt the allies to take action and "meet the common dangers." The U.S. and Philippine militaries have conducted several exercises this year-including Balikatan and KAMANDAG 9-to enhance their cooperation. The most-recent joint drill follows a report of China's bomber deployment to an island outpost in the South China Sea. Exercise Cope Thunder began on Monday in the Philippines and is scheduled to run through July 18, according to the U.S. Pacific Air Forces. The aerial drill aims to enhance readiness and interoperability among participating air units by facilitating bilateral fighter training. The Pacific allies support regional and global security by increasing readiness, strengthening deterrence, and fostering a peaceful and stable Indo-Pacific, the U.S. Pacific Air Forces said. While the U.S. side did not reveal which units took part in the drill, the Philippine Air Force said that 225 personnel and an unspecified number of F-35 fighter aircraft assigned to the U.S. Pacific Air Forces were deployed to Northern Luzon-the Philippines' largest island. Officially released photos show two U.S. F-35 jets conducting a patrol exercise with two Philippine FA-50PH jets over waters within the Southeast Asian country's 230-mile-wide Exclusive Economic Zone and territorial waters, which extend 13.8 miles from the coastline. In addition to FA-50PH jets, the Philippine Air Force deployed more than 2,300 personnel and A-29B attack aircraft for the exercise, along with AW109, S-76A, and S-70i helicopters. This bilateral air exercise underscored what the Philippine Air Force described as the "enduring alliance and strong defense cooperation" between Manila and Washington. The U.S. Pacific Air Forces said in a press release on Sunday: "Originating in the Philippines in 1976, Cope Thunder relocated to Eielson Air Force Base [in Alaska] in 1992, later rebranding as Red Flag Alaska. Resuming in the Philippines in 2023, this exercise offers a distinctive platform to integrate forces and enhance interoperability between the Philippine and United States air forces." The Philippine Air Force said in a press release on Monday: "[Cope Thunder Philippines 2025] marks another significant milestone in advancing joint interoperability and mutual defense readiness between the [Philippine Air Force] and [U.S. Pacific Air Forces], while contributing to the Armed Forces of the Philippines' (AFP) modernization and capability development efforts to uphold regional security and stability in the Indo-Pacific region." It remains to be seen whether U.S. F-35 jets will stay behind in the Philippines following the conclusion of the exercise, maintaining the U.S. military presence in the South China Sea. Related Articles Iran Contradicts Donald Trump on TalksIran's Army Gives Missile Update: Thousands Ready to LaunchUS Navy Stealth Ship Shows Up on China's DoorstepArgentina's Javier Milei Keeps Proving His Critics Wrong 2025 NEWSWEEK DIGITAL LLC.
GMA Network
08-07-2025
- Politics
- GMA Network
AFP: Pacific naval, marine, military leaders' meeting a 'show of unity'
The symposium co-hosted by the marine corps of the Philippines and United States in Manila is a "show of unity" with 30 other nations amid tensions involving China in the West Philippine Sea, the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) said Tuesday. "The way I look at it, instead of looking at it as a show of force, for me this is a show of unity among like-minded nations, who get together for a common value and that is to promote a free and open Indo-Pacific. Now the PALS 2025 is a part of a series of activities that we conduct bilaterally with the United States and with our partners multilaterally," said AFP Chief of Staff General Romeo Brawner Jr. in a press conference during the opening of the Pacific Amphibious Leaders Symposium (PALS) 2025 in Bonifacio Global City, Taguig. "For instance, we just finished the Balikatan exercise this year. Yesterday, we closed the Salaknib exercise between the PH Army and the US army, and today we opened the PALS. Again, for me, it's a show of unity," he added. The PALS 2025, which will run until July 10, is participated by senior Marine Corps officers, naval infantry, and military leaders from allied and partner nations across the Indo-Pacific. The symposium is a face-to-face engagement among participants to boost cooperation within the Indo-Pacific region's amphibious and maritime community. "This iteration is an honor for the Philippines to host it, we want to get as much as takeaway as possible. And maybe some people might interpret it that way, but I would not want to detract from the importance that the participants will bring into their exchanges," said Department of National Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro. This year's Balikatan annual joint military exercise between the Philippines and the US was held from April 21 to May 9. Some 17,000 troops were earlier expected to join, and engaged in a full battle exercise. When asked if such dialogues or exercises among allied nations are targeted against a certain nation, Teodoro replied: "If the shoe fits, that's their problem. If any nation is against international law, who wants to change it unilaterally, wants to transgress on the rights of another country then so be it." "I really don't know where this will end up. Insofar as I'm concerned, what is manageable to me now are stronger bilateral ties," the Philippine Defense chief added. Tensions continue as Beijing claims almost all of the South China Sea, a conduit for more than $3 trillion of annual shipborne commerce, including parts claimed by the Philippines, Vietnam, Indonesia, Malaysia, and Brunei. Parts of the South China Sea that fall within Philippine territory have been renamed by the government as West Philippine Sea to reinforce the country's claim. The West Philippine Sea refers to the maritime areas on the western side of the Philippine archipelago including Luzon Sea and the waters around, within and adjacent to the Kalayaan Island Group and Bajo de Masinloc. In 2016, the Permanent Court of Arbitration in the Hague ruled in favor of the Philippines over China's claims in the South China Sea, saying that it had "no legal basis." China has refused to recognize the decision. — VDV, GMA Integrated News
