Latest news with #40thBalikatan
News.com.au
23-04-2025
- Politics
- News.com.au
Australia's defence minister grilled on drills ‘preparing for war with China'
Defence Minister Richard Marles has baulked at comments labelling a military operation involving Australian troops in the Philippines as 'preparing for war with China'. Joint US-Philippines army training exercises have been taking place this week as part of the 40th Balikatan – or 'shoulder to shoulder' – program held close to Taiwan. Australia has participated annually since 2014 and Japan also became a full-fledged participant in 2025. China has long been opposed to drills taking place near the disputed South China Sea and has been engaged in confrontations with Manila. Host of the ABC's 730, Sarah Ferguson, on Wednesday put to Mr Marles that a senior US Marine described the training exercises as 'a war plan being tested'. 'Why are Australian military involved in exercises preparing for war with China?' she asked. This year's exercises were also described as a 'full-scale battle scenario' by the Philippines military. In response to Ferguson's question Mr Marles, who is also the Deputy Prime Minister, said he did not 'embrace that language … the way in which you asserted the question'. He went on to clarify that 'when you do exercises, you are practising for the real thing'. 'That is actually what a defence exercise is,' he said. 'We are doing more exercises with the Philippines, and we're doing more exercises with the United States. 'And we're doing them more in a trilateral way as is described. 'And it's really important that we are doing that to build the network of capability and interoperability with defence forces within our region.' Mr Marles said such exercises were also 'about building our own innate capability'. 'It is absolutely about pursuing our alliance with the United States. But it's also about building our defence relationships with countries in the region,' he said. 'We're doing that more with the Philippines, but we're doing it more with Japan. 'We look forward doing it much more with Indonesia as part of our defence co-operation agreement with Indonesia.' At Balikatan, US Marine Corps Lieutenant General James Glynn replied 'we are ready' when asked if the joint forces could respond to aggression in the South China Sea. 'Our combined strength … possesses a degree of lethality for a force that possesses an indomitable warrior ethos and spirit,' Mr Glynn said, according to the Military Times. 'It's all dedicated to one purpose, to ensure the defence of the Philippines and to maintain a free and open Indo-Pacific.' He also noted 'nothing builds bonds more quickly than shared adversity', without specifying a common threat. US Marines Colonel Doug Krugman also said: 'It is like a war plan being tested'. Sophisticated US weapons including the NMESIS anti-ship missile system will also be deployed, including near a crucial chokepoint in the waters separating the northern Philippines from self-ruled Taiwan. Philippines Major General Francisco Lorenzo added that the 40th Balikatan exercises would reinforce the country's ability to address 'contemporary security challenges'. According to Defence, about 260 members of the Australian Defence Force were among 14,000 personnel at Balikatan 2025, which runs until May. In a statement on Monday, Australia's Vice Admiral Justin Jones said the Philippines was 'one of our closest partners and friends, and under our Strategic Partnership, our defence relationship continues to deepen'. 'Balikatan 2025 highlights the United States and Philippines' commitment to their bilateral partnership as well as interoperability with other partner nations.' The Philippines has been engaged in months of confrontations with Beijing over disputed areas of the South China Sea. It has steadily deepened defence co-operation with treaty ally the US since President Ferdinand Marcos took office in 2022 and began pushing back on China's sweeping claims to the crucial waterway. During a recent visit to Manila, US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth said Washington was 'doubling down' on the alliance. 'Deterrence is necessary around the world, but specifically in this region, in your country – considering the threats from the Communist Chinese,' he said in late March. In response to the drills, Beijing accused Manila of 'collusion with countries outside the region'. The exercises 'undermine regional strategic stability', said foreign ministry spokesman Guo Jiakun. 'This has already aroused strong aversion and opposition from regional countries,' he said. – with AFP.
Japan Today
21-04-2025
- Politics
- Japan Today
Philippines, U.S. launch joint military drills
US and Philippine soldiers salute during the national anthems at the opening ceremony of the Balikatan annual joint military exercise By Pam CASTRO The Philippine and U.S. militaries on Monday kicked off three weeks of joint exercises that will simulate a "full-scale battle scenario", as the two allies seek to deter Beijing's ambitions in the disputed South China Sea. As many as 17,000 personnel are expected to take part in the annual "Balikatan", or "shoulder to shoulder" drills, which for the first time will include an integrated air and missile defense simulation, to be attended by President Ferdinand Marcos. Sophisticated U.S. weapons including the NMESIS anti-ship missile system will also be deployed, including near a crucial chokepoint in the waters separating the northern Philippines from self-ruled Taiwan. "We will demonstrate not just our will to uphold our mutual defense treaty in existence since 1951 but our matchless capability to do so," U.S. Marine Corps Lieutenant General James Glynn said at Monday's opening ceremony in Manila. "Nothing builds bonds more quickly than shared adversity," he said, without specifying a common threat. Philippines Major General Francisco Lorenzo added that the 40th Balikatan exercises would reinforce the country's ability to address "contemporary security challenges". The Philippines has been engaged in months of confrontations with Beijing over disputed areas of the South China Sea. It has steadily deepened defense cooperation with treaty ally the United States since Marcos took office in 2022 and began pushing back on China's sweeping claims to the crucial waterway. During a recent visit to Manila, U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said Washington was "doubling down" on the alliance. "Deterrence is necessary around the world, but specifically in this region, in your country -- considering the threats from the Communist Chinese," he said in late March. In response to the drills, Beijing accused Manila of "collusion with countries outside the region". The exercises "undermine regional strategic stability", said foreign ministry spokesman Guo Jiakun. "This has already aroused strong aversion and opposition from regional countries," he said. Last year's Balikatan featured tests of the U.S. Typhon mid-range missile system. The Philippine Army subsequently said it was planning to acquire the Typhon, sparking warnings from China of a regional "arms race". On Monday, Glynn said the Typhon system would again be present, along with the Marine Air Defense Integrated System, or MADIS, a short-range platform specializing in knocking out drones. The Philippines' Chief of Staff Romeo Brawner said last month that Manila was seeking to upgrade its arsenal, with more missile systems, warships and fighter jets. On April 2, the United States said it had approved the possible sale of $5.58 billion in long-coveted F-16 fighter jets to the Philippines, though Manila said the deal was "still in the negotiation phase". A week later, the Philippines took possession of the first of two corvette-class warships with "advanced weapons and radar systems" acquired in a deal with South Korea's Hyundai Heavy Industries. China considers Taiwan part of its sovereign territory and has vowed to bring it under Beijing's control one day. Given the Philippines' proximity to Taiwan and its surrounding waters, Manila's cooperation would be crucial in the event of any U.S. conflict with China. On April 1, as Chinese ships and warplanes surrounded the self-ruled island in a simulated blockade, Brawner said his country would "inevitably" be involved should the democracy be invaded. While Manila later said Brawner's comments were primarily referencing efforts to retrieve Filipino workers in Taiwan, its Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement with Washington gives U.S. forces access to nine bases in the Philippines. Asked about Taiwan on Monday, Lorenzo said Balikatan could potentially "help deter" a conflict over the island. Both the U.S. and Philippine militaries, however, stressed that this year's war games would not address a potential Chinese invasion. Besides the United States, countries including Australia and Japan are sending smaller contingents to Balikatan. © 2025 AFP
Time of India
21-04-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
'Shared adversity' as Philippines, US launch joint military drills
MANILA: The Philippine and US militaries on Monday kicked off three weeks of joint exercises that will simulate a "full-scale battle scenario", as the two allies seek to deter Beijing's ambitions in the disputed . Tired of too many ads? go ad free now As many as 17,000 personnel are expected to take part in the annual "Balikatan", or "shoulder to shoulder" drills, which for the first time will include an integrated air and missile defence simulation, to be attended by President Ferdinand Marcos. Sophisticated US weapons including the NMESIS anti-ship missile system will also be deployed, including near a crucial chokepoint in the waters separating the northern Philippines from self-ruled Taiwan. "We will demonstrate not just our will to uphold our mutual defence treaty in existence since 1951 but our matchless capability to do so," US Marine Corps Lieutenant General James Glynn said at Monday's opening ceremony in Manila. "Nothing builds bonds more quickly than shared adversity," he said, without specifying a common threat. Philippines Major General Francisco Lorenzo added that the 40th Balikatan exercises would reinforce the country's ability to address "contemporary security challenges". The Philippines has been engaged in months of confrontations with Beijing over disputed areas of the South China Sea. It has steadily deepened defence cooperation with treaty ally the United States since Marcos took office in 2022 and began pushing back on China's sweeping claims to the crucial waterway. During a recent visit to Manila, US defence secretary said Washington was "doubling down" on the alliance. "Deterrence is necessary around the world, but specifically in this region, in your country -- considering the threats from the Communist Chinese," he said in late March. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now In response to the drills, Beijing accused Manila of "collusion with countries outside the region". The exercises "undermine regional strategic stability", said foreign ministry spokesman Guo Jiakun. "This has already aroused strong aversion and opposition from regional countries," he said. Manila seeking military upgrades: Last year's Balikatan featured tests of the US Typhon mid-range missile system. The Philippine Army subsequently said it was planning to acquire the Typhon, sparking warnings from China of a regional "arms race". On Monday, Glynn said the Typhon system would again be present, along with the Marine Air Defense Integrated System, or MADIS, a short-range platform specialising in knocking out drones. The Philippines' Chief of Staff Romeo Brawner said last month that Manila was seeking to upgrade its arsenal, with more missile systems, warships and fighter jets. On April 2, the United States said it had approved the possible sale of $5.58 billion in long-coveted F-16 fighter jets to the Philippines, though Manila said the deal was "still in the negotiation phase". A week later, the Philippines took possession of the first of two corvette-class warships with "advanced weapons and radar systems" acquired in a deal with South Korea's Hyundai Heavy Industries. 'Inevitably' involved: China considers Taiwan part of its sovereign territory and has vowed to bring it under Beijing's control one day. Given the Philippines' proximity to Taiwan and its surrounding waters, Manila's cooperation would be crucial in the event of any US conflict with China. On April 1, as Chinese ships and warplanes surrounded the self-ruled island in a simulated blockade, Brawner said his country would "inevitably" be involved should the democracy be invaded. While Manila later said Brawner's comments were primarily referencing efforts to retrieve Filipino workers in Taiwan, its Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement with Washington gives US forces access to nine bases in the Philippines. Asked about Taiwan on Monday, Lorenzo said Balikatan could potentially "help deter" a conflict over the island. Both the US and Philippine militaries, however, stressed that this year's war games would not address a potential Chinese invasion. Besides the United States, countries including Australia and Japan are sending smaller contingents to Balikatan.
South China Morning Post
14-03-2025
- Politics
- South China Morning Post
Philippines set for ‘more robust' Balikatan joint drills, but no mention of Typhon
The Philippines is gearing up for its biggest joint military exercise this year, aimed at enhancing its defence capabilities, with observers suggesting Manila should still showcase a controversial US-made missile system that Beijing is firmly against. Advertisement Without giving detailed information on the dates and number of soldiers slated to join the drills, Brigadier General Michael Logico, Balikatan's executive agent, said last week that the 40th Balikatan exercises would be a full battle test. 'There will be participation coming from the Australian Defence Force and the Japanese Self Defence Force,' Logico told reporters at a briefing after a live fire exercise last week in Capas, Tarlac, adding he was waiting for 'newer developments from other countries' before giving further details on this year's Balikatan. Like last year, the drills will feature sinking exercises 12 nautical miles outside the Philippines' territorial waters. The Typhon missile system was deployed in the Philippines during the first phase of the Salaknib exercise in April of last year and used in the Balikatan joint exercises the following month. Advertisement Muhammad Faizal Bin Abdul Rahman, a research fellow at the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies in Singapore, told This Week in Asia the coming Balikatan drills would continue to serve as a deterrent against China along the first island chain, where Philippine interests in the South China Sea and the security of the Taiwan Strait were implicitly linked.
