US and Allied Drills Counter China's Island-Taking Tactics
Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content.
The United States and its allies in the Pacific Ocean, the Philippines and Australia, held a live-fire drill to counter China's island landing operations in the disputed South China Sea.
Newsweek has reached out to the Chinese Defense Ministry for comment by email.
Why It Matters
The U.S. and the Philippines, which have formed an alliance under a mutual defense treaty, are conducting Exercise Balikatan—their largest annual war game—in the Southeast Asian archipelagic country from April 21 to May 9, with the involvement of Australia and Japan.
This comes as China asserts sovereignty over most of the territories in the South China Sea. Beijing's claims overlap with those of neighboring nations. Last week, Chinese personnel displayed a national flag on an uninhabited feature near a Philippine island in the region.
What To Know
In a set of photos released on Thursday, the U.S. and Philippine Marines, as well as soldiers from the Australian army, fired artillery weapons at a floating target during a counter-landing exercise in Rizal, located on the island of Palawan in southwestern Philippines, on Monday.
Philippine Marines fire an artillery weapon as part of a counter-landing live fire exercise during Exercise Balikatan in Rizal in the Philippines on April 28, 2025.
Philippine Marines fire an artillery weapon as part of a counter-landing live fire exercise during Exercise Balikatan in Rizal in the Philippines on April 28, 2025.
Spc. Riley Anfinson/U.S. Army Reserve
Exercise Balikatan strengthened the U.S.-Philippine alliance and its "capable combined force," the photo captions read, displaying the allies' commitment to regional security and stability.
The exercise also saw the participation of the U.S. Army, which mobilized the M142 High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS). The rocket launcher is capable of projecting "precise, long-range fire" while quickly maneuvering in and out of operational environments.
The allied counter-landing exercise comes as the Chinese military released a video showing its four amphibious warships, which are capable of projecting ground and air power during island-landing campaigns, forming a landing ship flotilla for training in the South China Sea.
During Exercise Balikatan, the U.S. military employed new, advanced weapons for the first time, including the Navy-Marine Expeditionary Ship Interdiction System (NMESIS). This U.S. Marine Corps' anti-ship missile system was deployed near the Luzon Strait on April 26.
Philippine Marines, Australian soldiers, and United States Marines fire at a floating target during a counter-landing live-fire exercise during Exercise Balikatan in Rizal in the Philippines on April 28, 2025.
Philippine Marines, Australian soldiers, and United States Marines fire at a floating target during a counter-landing live-fire exercise during Exercise Balikatan in Rizal in the Philippines on April 28, 2025.
Spc. Riley Anfinson/U.S. Army Reserve
Meanwhile, the U.S. Army tested its directed energy weapon during an integrated air and missile defense drill on Monday. The Integrated Fires Protection Capability High-Powered Microwave (IFPC-HPM) emits microwave energy to disrupt, disable or destroy drones.
What People Are Saying
Lieutenant General James F. Glynn, commander of the U.S. Marine Corps Forces Pacific, said: "Together with our steadfast allies in the Armed Forces of the Philippines, and with the growing involvement of nations with shared vital interests, like Australia and Japan, we are operating as a force with mutually supporting capabilities ready to meet challenges in the region and defend a free and open Indo-Pacific."
Senior Colonel Zhang Xiaogang, spokesperson for the Chinese Defense Ministry, said: "We always hold that military cooperation between countries should not target or hurt the interests of any third party, nor should it jeopardize regional peace and stability ... However, the Philippines holds a candle to the devil by currying favor and colluding with the US and other outside countries."
What Happens Next
Both the U.S. and the Philippines, as well as China, are expected to continue flexing their military power in and around the South China Sea as Manila and Beijing refuse to back down over the sovereignty disputes in the contested waters.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Miami Herald
an hour ago
- Miami Herald
Intel CEO pushes back amid calls for resignation
A day after Intel (INTC) stock slid more than 3% following political calls for his resignation, CEO Lip-Bu Tan publicly defended his record and emphasized his commitment to U.S. national security. The move indicates Tan is not stepping aside, despite pressure this week from U.S. President Donald Trump and Arkansas Senator Tom Cotton over Tan's past business ties to China. "We are engaging with the Administration to address the matters that have been raised and ensure they have the facts," Tan said in a statement. "I fully share the President's commitment to advancing U.S. national and economic security, I appreciate his leadership to advance these priorities, and I'm proud to lead a company that is so central to these goals." Related: Leaked data shows Nvidia taking page from Zuckerberg's playbook Tan added that he has the backing of the company's board of directors and has "always operated within the highest legal and ethical standards." Trump's call for Tan to resign, posted on Truth Social on Thursday, alleged the CEO was "highly CONFLICTED" but offered no further specifics. The demand came shortly after Cotton sent a letter to Tan raising concerns about his investments in Chinese semiconductor and manufacturing companies, including some allegedly linked to the Chinese military. Before joining Intel in March, Tan was a prominent venture capitalist who made significant investments across East Asia, including in China. That track record is now drawing scrutiny in Washington, where lawmakers are increasingly linking leadership choices at critical technology firms to broader geopolitical competition. Image source: Annabelle Chih/Bloomberg via Getty Images Intel is a central player in the U.S.-China technology rivalry, particularly in advanced semiconductor manufacturing. The company is expected to begin ramping production of its next-generation "Nova Lake" CPUs in the coming quarters. Cotton's letter warned that Tan's financial and professional associations could undermine public trust in Intel's ability to safeguard sensitive technology, especially given the nearly $8 billion in subsidies the company was awarded under the CHIPS and Science Act - the largest grant under the act to any single company. The matter has taken on additional political context as major tech executives appear to be deepening ties with the Trump administration in his second term. Earlier this week, Apple (AAPL) CEO Tim Cook presented Trump with a custom-made glass plaque featuring a solid gold base, a gesture conciding with Apple's pledge to invest $100 billion in U.S. manufacturing. Related: Analysts revamp Meta price target after earnings Intel's board is now in a position where it must weigh the reputational and regulatory risks of keeping Tan in place against the potential disruption of a leadership change during a critical restructuring. Since taking the helm following his appointment as CEO in March 2025, Tan has announced sweeping cost cuts, scaled back overseas projects, and slowed construction on a major U.S. chip plant in moves aimed at shoring up profitability at the firm. More AI Stocks: Google plans major AI shift after Meta's surprising $14 billion moveMeta delivers eye-popping AI announcementVeteran trader surprises with Palantir price target and comments At the same time, the fact that the board has publicly signaled support for Tan could stabilize investor sentiment in the short term, although uncertainty remains. Tan's comments also come as Reuters reported this week that Intel has faced quality control issues in manufacturing its next-gen chips, a potential complication as the company pushes to regain leadership in the global semiconductor race. Whether the CEO's outreach to the U.S. presidential administration will defuse tensions, or whether the political calls for his removal will grow louder, may determine not only Tan's future at Intel but also how Washington shapes the rules for companies operating at the heart of the U.S.-China tech rivalry. Related: The alarming reason so many tech companies are raising cash The Arena Media Brands, LLC THESTREET is a registered trademark of TheStreet, Inc.
New York Post
4 hours ago
- New York Post
Lasers are innovating modern warfare, for better or worse
Earlier this summer, Israel made military history. Not with a missile, bomb or bullet — but with a beam of light. In a first for modern warfare, the Israel Defense Forces successfully intercepted Hezbollah drones using a high-energy laser weapon in live combat. The breakthrough weapon, developed under the Iron Beam program, quietly zapped dozens of targets out of the sky during the Iron Sword campaign, marking the first confirmed use of laser cannon technology on an active battlefield. According to a joint statement in late May from the Israeli Ministry of Defence, the Israeli Air Force and defense contractor Rafael Advanced Defense Systems, 'soldiers from the IAF Aerial Defence Array operated high-power laser system prototypes in the field, successfully intercepting scores of enemy threats.' Advertisement 9 Rafael Advanced Defense Systems The technology might sound like science fiction, but officials say this laser cannon, which resembles an oversized spotlight, is anything but make-believe. Israel's success may signal a turning point in the race to develop laser weapons, but it's far from the only player on the field. China was accused last month of targeting a German aircraft with a laser during an EU operation. Germany called it 'entirely unacceptable,' although China denied the claim. Meanwhile, Chinese scientists are reportedly developing a microwave-based beam weapon that resembles the Death Star and is capable of combining multiple sources into one high-powered shot. Advertisement Russia recently unveiled the 'Posokh,' a laser weapon described as a 'ray gun' for downing drones. Russian Airborne Forces also showcased a prototype laser rifle in March designed to protect civilian infrastructure from UAV attacks. 9 AFP via Getty Images Laser weapons, formally known as directed energy weapons (DEWs), have been on the global radar for decades. But until now, they've mostly lived in research labs and defense trade shows. More than 30 countries are developing the technology — and the US military alone spends $1 billion annually on high-energy laser (HEL) research. 'The Army, Navy and Air Force have all been developing laser weapons,' says Dr. Iain Boyd, PhD, director of the Center for National Security Initiatives at the University of Colorado Boulder. 'The Navy has installed HELs on several ships, the Army is using them for base defense and vehicles, and the Air Force has studied installing HELs on fighter jets.' Advertisement Are lasers poised to become the weapon of choice for modern warfare? Boyd tells The Post he expects to see 'a steady increase in the use of high-energy laser weapons in the coming years. It is still relatively immature technology, but as the remaining challenges are overcome, their potential to change some aspects of warfare will be realized.' For the moment, the Iron Beam — known in Hebrew as Magen Or, which translates to Shield of Light —shows the most promise. An offshoot of the Iron Dome, Israel's air defense system that's been operational since 2011, the Iron Beam was designed to 'complement the Iron Dome and work alongside it, not replace it,' says military analyst Yaakov Lappin, who's been closely following the technology for years. But the Iron Beam promises something no other weapon can deliver: shots that cost a few dollars apiece. 'It's vastly cheaper,' Lappin says. Advertisement Israel currently spends upwards of $100,000 per Iron Dome interceptor. That's a steep price to shoot down enemy projectiles that might cost just a few hundred dollars to build. The Iron Beam's electric 'bullets,' by contrast, are practically free. 9 AP 'They are described as having an 'infinite magazine,' ' says Dr. Boyd. 'Unlike guns and rocket launchers that have a finite number of munitions available, as long as a HEL has electrical power, it can keep on firing 'bullets' of photons.' The US, meanwhile, has yet to deploy lasers in real-world combat despite decades of research. The Army's Stryker-based laser, Navy's ship-mounted HELs and Air Force programs all remain in test phases. 'I am not content with the pace,' US Navy Vice Adm. Brendan McLane said in a keynote speech at the Surface Navy Association confab in 2024. 'We must deliver on the promise this technology gives us.' America's laser weapon dreams go back to Ronald Reagan's 1983 'Star Wars' Strategic Defense Initiative, a $200 billion attempt to shoot down nuclear missiles with space lasers. That program fizzled out by 1993. Subsequent efforts, like the joint US-Israel 'Nautilus' laser in the late '90s, also stalled for being too bulky, weak and slow. 9 Sygma via Getty Images The pivot came with solid-state lasers which are smaller, more efficient and electric rather than chemical. Advertisement Israel had one key advantage over other nations in the race to develop lasers, says Brian Wang, a science writer and co-founder of the popular tech blog Next Big Future. 'The US has spent billions over the decades, but Israel had actual fighting as a forcing factor to get this stuff working and deployed,' he explains. The breakthrough came when Israeli engineers abandoned the old idea of firing one giant beam and instead developed a system that fires hundreds of small, coin-sized beams. These beams lock onto a single vulnerable spot, often identified via telescopic reflection, and bombard it in succession until the threat is neutralized. The Iron Beam uses optical fiber lasers, which are essentially souped-up industrial lasers, to destroy aerial threats. 'Electricity is used to excite atoms or molecules,' explains Wang. 'They emit high energy photons, and all the photons are concentrated using mirrors. The laser heats a critical area — say, the fuel tank or warhead — until the missile fails.' 9 Commander Naval Surface Force Atlantic/Facebook Advertisement Lasers convert electrical energy 'into a focused beam of light particles, or photons,' says Boyd. 'Depending on the energy, they can cut, melt, combust or destroy a target.' In practical terms, the Iron Beam vaporizes drones with surgical precision. But there are limits. HELs currently can't intercept long-range ballistic missiles like the ones targeted by Israel's Arrow 3, which shoots down threats outside the Earth's atmosphere. For now, lasers remain short-range guardians. Also, a weapon capable of melting metal at 2 kilometers isn't exactly energy-efficient. A 100-kilowatt laser requires a massive power source and cooling system. The most advanced (and smallest) prototypes draw 300 kilowatts — enough to power 30 homes — and are only about 50% efficient, meaning they produce immense waste heat. This limits where and how the weapons can be deployed. And there's another catch. Advertisement 'The effectiveness of laser beams can be diminished through interaction with a variety of environmental phenomena,' say Boyd. Rain, fog, dust and smoke can scatter laser beams, reducing their effectiveness. 'The laser needs to stay locked on a target for several seconds to be effective,' he adds. Which is why naval lasers, like those tested on the USS Preble, haven't seen wide use. The sea is a famously unforgiving place for precision optics. A misplaced beam can also cause serious unintended damage. As Boyd warns, there's concern about potential collateral effects. 'A laser beam reflecting off a surface could blind someone,' he says. 'Or if it misses a target, it could travel hundreds of miles. There is a need to ensure no innocent party is affected.' Advertisement The UN banned laser weapons designed to blind in 1995. But with nations like Russia and Turkey reportedly fielding HELs, updated international rules may be overdue. And then there's the conspiracy crowd. Social media has fueled bizarre theories claiming government lasers have started wildfires in California and Hawaii, an idea experts flatly reject. 'I am very skeptical about these claims,' says Boyd. 'Installing a laser of sufficient power to start a fire on a drone is not simple. For a laser to be effective, you need to have very fine pointing control to ensure that the beam stays precisely on the target.' Achieving that during flight requires sophisticated technology, Boyd says, and there are 'probably more effective ways of starting wildfires from drones than lasers.' In a world where a $500 drone can destroy a $10 million tank, militaries are desperate for cheaper, smarter defenses. Lasers offer just that, if they can overcome their limitations. Israel's success may mark the beginning of a new era, one where the flash of a laser, not the roar of a missile, is what keeps the skies safe.
Business Insider
4 hours ago
- Business Insider
U.S. Senate confirms Trump's nominee to lead U.S. Africa Command: What it means for Africa
The U.S. Senate has confirmed Air Force Lt. Gen. Dagvin R.M. Anderson as the next commander of its Africa Command (AFRICOM), marking a significant shift in American engagement with the continent under President Donald Trump. The U.S. Senate confirmed Lt. Gen. Dagvin R.M. Anderson as the new commander of AFRICOM This leadership transition occurs amid strategic challenges posed by Russian and Chinese influence and expanding African initiatives. Anderson aims to enhance diplomatic ties and regional stability while addressing emerging geopolitical dynamics within the continent. Anderson, the first Air Force officer to ever lead US AFRICOM in its history, will officially replace Marine Gen. Michael Langley, who made history in 2022 as the first Black four-star Marine. During his tenure, Langley focused on counterterrorism partnerships in West Africa, tracking illicit gold flows that finance extremist groups. Langley's leadership was widely regarded as steady and collaborative, fostering cooperation with A frican partners in intelligence sharing and regional counterterrorism efforts, particularly against al-Shabaab in Somalia and Islamic State affiliates in the Sahel. However, U.S. influence in some major parts of the Sahel region eroded, during his tenure, with several military juntas cutting ties with Western forces and welcoming Russian private military contractors. Meanwhile, Chinese investments in ports, telecoms, and energy projects expanded, giving Beijing growing leverage over African infrastructure. Gen. Dagvin R.M. Anderson inherits AFRICOM at a strategic crossroads, particularly amid President Trump's "America First, Africa Strong" policy framework, which blends a heightened military posture with targeted commercial engagement. Unlike previous administrations, Washington may prioritize strategic investments in sectors like mining, energy, and digital infrastructure alongside a more assertive security presence. Potential U.S. Engagement In Rwanda, the Democratic Republic of Congo, and Côte d'Ivoire, this could mean expanded military training, counterterrorism funding, and infrastructure support to stabilize conflict-prone regions. In Nigeria, the most populous nation in Africa and one of the continent's biggest oil producers, U.S. engagement may lean towards safeguarding energy production in the Niger Delta, improving coastal security in the Gulf of Guinea, and countering Chinese-built telecoms networks. Kenya, as a long-time counterterrorism partner, could see expanded cooperation in drone surveillance, anti-piracy patrols, and digital infrastructure projects aimed at securing East Africa's trade corridors. Algeria, a major military power in North Africa, may find U.S. outreach shaped by competition with Russia for arms sales and influence over Mediterranean security. South Africa, meanwhile, is likely to face diplomatic pressure over its BRICS ties while benefiting from potential American investment in renewable energy and port upgrades. In light of these developments, Anderson, who had previously commanded the U.S. Special Operations Command Africa described Africa as ' the center of a great-power rivalry, ' At his confirmation hearing. He warned that both Russia and China ' see their futures running through the continent. ' highlighting China's growing network of military-to-military engagements and its push for dual-use ports on the Atlantic, describing them as 'worrisome' for U.S. maritime security. During the hearing, Anderson said, 'I believe that the Russian influence and information operations were critical in turning populations against the French in the Sahel. ' He also noted, 'I think it is very much not in our interest what the Russians are doing in the information domain,' When Asked whether the U.S. is losing the 'war for truth,' he replied, ' The truth is incredibly powerful… we need to be more aggressive… if we do not engage, we risk losing it. ' Beyond security concerns, Anderson lauded the $1.2 billion investment by the Trump administration in the Pentagon's Office of Strategic Capital. He emphasized that AFRICOM could serve as a bridge between American investors and African partners, ensuring security considerations are integrated into major projects. For African governments, Anderson's appointment could bring both opportunities and challenges. His record suggests more robust U.S. military cooperation for states aligned with Washington's security agenda, but also greater scrutiny of countries deepening ties with China or Russia.
