2LT International News

ITBAYAT, The Philippines: U.S. and Philippine forces recently conducted combat drills in the Philippines’ northernmost island town of Itbayat, situated along the strategic Bashi Channel near southern Taiwan, a pivotal area in the ongoing military rivalry between Washington and Beijing.

The exercises, part of the annual Balikatan maneuvers, involved over 16,000 American and Philippine military personnel, marking the largest drills to date. Amid China’s increasingly assertive actions in the disputed South China Sea, where tensions have escalated between Chinese and Philippine coast guards, the exercises aim to deter potential aggression.

More than 250 French and Australian forces and observers from Japan and other European nations joined the drills. The scenario simulated a mock battle, with American and Filipino troops taking positions at the airfield while Army CH-47 Chinook helicopters delivered combat supplies.

Marine 1st Lt. Annie Pentaleri said aerial combat reconnaissance and counter-reconnaissance drills were also planned in the far-flung region.

“We are absolutely battle-ready and that’s what we train for day in and day out,” Marine Maj. Robert Patterson said. “It’s important to enhance inter-operability with our Filipino counterparts.”

While the drills claimed to focus on improving emergency response in disaster-prone regions of the Philippines, this year’s exercises notably emphasized territorial defense in sensitive areas, including the South China Sea and the Bashi Channel.

The Bashi Channel, vital for trade and laden with international undersea cables, has become a key area of contention. China views Taiwan as part of its territory and closely monitors the strategic waterway.

The exercises come amid escalating tensions between China and the U.S., with Chinese President Xi Jinping warning against Taiwan’s independence efforts and criticizing U.S. support for the island. President Joe Biden has raised concerns about China’s actions in the South China Sea, including obstructing Philippine resupply efforts.

Derek Grossman, a senior defense analyst at RAND Corporation, said the message of deterrence was important. Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s decision to allow U.S. forces indefinite access to two Philippine air force and naval bases in Cagayan province near Batanes under a 2014 defense pact, “would likely upgrade the U.S. military’s ability to intervene in a Taiwan contingency in a more timely manner,” he said.

As part of the Balikatan exercises, joint naval sails by the U.S., France, and the Philippines have included live-fire drills in the contested waters of the South China Sea. During these maneuvers, an aircraft was also deployed to drop essential supplies onto a disputed island currently occupied by Filipino forces.

In a separate event on May 6, U.S. and Philippine forces conducted drills to repel potential invaders in the coastal province of Ilocos Norte, which directly borders the South China Sea. The exercises involved firing missiles and artillery rounds at floating targets positioned at sea.

Reflecting on the drills, Marine Lt. Gen. Michael Cederholm expressed satisfaction with the outcome, stating, “It was a huge success, the weapons were spot on.”

The drills have drawn criticism from China, which sees them as a concerted effort to counter Beijing’s influence. China has also expressed concern over the deployment of a U.S. ground-launched missile system in the Philippines, viewing it as a provocative move.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian expressed China’s grave concern over deploying the missile system “at China’s doorstep.”