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Straits Times
07-05-2025
- Politics
- Straits Times
US will ensure allies' security, says General Ronald Clark after China unfurled its flag at a disputed South China Sea sandbank
Top US general says America will keep promise to ensure Indo-Pacific allies' security SINGAPORE - A top US general has assured Indo-Pacific nations that Washington will keep to its promise to ensure its allies' security, weeks after China's coast guard unfurled the nation's flag atop a sandbank also claimed by the Philippines in the South China Sea. Responding to a question from The Straits Times during a virtual press briefing on May 7, US Army Pacific commander General Ronald Clark said the US stood 'shoulder to shoulder' with the Philippines in its territorial dispute with Beijing. However, he stressed that he could not speak for the government in Manila, nor dictate what actions it might take. 'We have worked very closely with them – really day to day work – allowing for the dialogue necessary and the coordination necessary and interoperability between the Philippine armed forces and our own, to work through some of the challenges associated with some of the claims being made on their sovereign territory,' said Gen Clark. 'As a treaty ally, we stand shoulder to shoulder with them as they work through challenges (relating) not just to features in the South China Sea, but also their sovereign territory at large,' he added. Gen Clark's comments come after US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth pledged to strengthen ties with the Philippines and 'restore deterrence' during a March trip to Asia. The flag unfurling in mid-April at Sandy Cay – part of the disputed Spratly Islands – came to light shortly after the US and Philippines launched their annual Balikatan ('shoulder to shoulder') military drills involving more than 17,000 personnel on April 21, with the timing seen as a direct challenge to both Washington and Manila. Beijing's actions at what it calls Tiexian Reef was reported in the Chinese media only on April 25, though the incident was believed to have been staged two weeks before. This prompted Manila to send military personnel to stage a flag-raising ceremony of its own at the maritime feature just days later on April 28. Manila's response sparked warnings from Beijing against actions that 'violated China's territorial sovereignty'. Sandy Cay is situated just kilometres from Thitu Island, the second-largest of the natural islands that make up the Spratlys. Known as Pag-asa in the Philippines, Thitu is home to a few hundred civilians and a military outpost. The tensions over the South China Sea take place in the backdrop of growing animosity between the US and China, with the two superpowers engaged in a brutal trade war that is likely to hurt global growth and prosperity. The deteriorating situation has raised fears among smaller nations that they will be arm-twisted into picking a side against their own self-interest. Arvind Jayaram is an assistant foreign editor at The Straits Times. Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
Observer
24-03-2025
- Politics
- Observer
US, Philippines launch drills with 5,000 soldiers
MANILA: Soldiers from the Philippine and the US armies began three weeks of joint military exercises on Monday, with drills focused on territorial defence and commanding large-scale deployments of forces, the Philippine Army said. Around 5,000 soldiers from the Philippine Army and the US Army Pacific will take part in warfighting and exchange of expertise in the first phase of this year's Exercise Salaknib. A second phase is scheduled for later this year. US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth is expected to travel to Manila this week to meet Philippine leaders and forces, the Pentagon announced last week. The exercises will focus on enhancing combined operations between their army, large-scale manoeuvres, live-fire exercises and territorial defence, the Philippine Army said. The Salaknib exercises began in 2016 and are annual engagements between the two treaty allies, part of the broader Balikatan (shoulder-to-shoulder) training drills. Security engagements between the two nations have soared under Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., who has pivoted closer to the United States. Hegseth is the first Cabinet official to visit Manila since US President Donald Trump took office in January. — Reuters
South China Morning Post
24-03-2025
- Politics
- South China Morning Post
US will not ‘live fire' Philippines-based Typhon missile system that angered China
The US Army has said it will not carry out live-fire tests of a strategic missile system stationed in the Philippines during their coming annual joint military exercises. Advertisement China strongly protested and repeatedly warned of 'resolute countermeasures' after the Typhon launchers were deployed on northern Luzon Island during joint drills by the treaty allies last April. 'We are not planning to conduct live fire in the Philippines right now,' Jeffrey VanAntwerp, deputy chief of staff of operations, plans and training at US Army Pacific, was quoted as saying last week. The US Army statement comes with Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth set to visit Manila this week to 'advance security objectives with Philippine leaders', according to a statement from the Pentagon. The Philippines will be the first stop in Hegseth's first trip to Asia since taking office. He is next expected to visit Japan, another US treaty ally. Advertisement Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump said on Friday that he did not want war with China but the American military was well prepared. 'We don't want to have a potential war with China, but I can tell you, if we did, we're very well-equipped to handle it,' Trump said from the Oval Office.
South China Morning Post
28-01-2025
- Politics
- South China Morning Post
Philippine soldiers to train on US Typhon missile system
Published: 5:07pm, 28 Jan 2025 Philippine soldiers will train on the US military's intermediate range missile system during unilateral army drills next month as part of preparations for bigger exercises with US counterparts, a military official said on Tuesday. The Typhon missile system was deployed by US forces to the Philippines in April last year as part of their Balikatan or 'shoulder to shoulder' military exercises, and has since stayed in the country, angering China which has repeatedly called for its withdrawal. Reuters reported last week the launchers were redeployed to a new location in the Philippines, which officials decline to disclose. Tomahawk cruise missiles used in the launchers are capable of hitting targets in both China and Russia from the Philippines. The SM-6 missiles it also carries can strike air or sea targets more than 200km (165 miles) away. A platoon of about 20 soldiers from the army artillery regiment will train with the US Army Pacific's First Multi-Domain Task Force in mid-February, Philippine army spokesperson Louie Dema-ala said. US and Philippine troops during their joint military exercise Balikatan, on May 6, 2024. Photo: AP The exercise will focus on the 'payload delivery system' and will highlight the system's capabilities, Dema-ala said, adding it would not include live-fire exercises.
