The April 26 exercise targeted warships in the South China Sea north of Manila. This was the final activity of the joint exercise called Balikatan 2023, the largest in 30 years between the US and the Philippines.
AP describes Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. watching the display of American firepower from an observation tower in the coastal town of San Antonio in Zambales province.
Sitting next to him were US Ambassador MaryKay Carlson and the Philippines’ top security and defense advisers. Mr. Marcos used binoculars, smiled and nodded as missiles soared into the blue sky from the US High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS).
The beachfront clearing in front of Mr. Marcos was a smoky wasteland, where artillery boomed as AH-64 Apache attack helicopters flew overhead.
US missiles fired during a joint military exercise with the Philippines on April 26. Photo: AP
The event began with a HIMARS rocket launcher firing a salvo of missiles at a Manila frigate anchored 22 kilometers offshore, simulating an attempt to intercept an enemy warship approaching the Philippine coast.
American and Philippine artillery units then repeatedly bombarded smaller floating targets, consisting of empty barrels tied together, deployed about 10 kilometers off the coast.
US and Philippine artillery continuously fired at a target simulating an enemy warship on April 26. Photo: AP
Balikatan, which means “shoulder to shoulder” in the Philippine Tagalog language, began on April 11 and involves about 12,200 US troops, about 5,400 Philippine troops and 111 Australian partners.
According to the US and Philippine military, the exercise showcased the capabilities of US warships, fighter jets, as well as Patriot, HIMARS and Javelin anti-tank missiles.
Philippine military spokesman Colonel Mike Logico said the exercise was briefly interrupted when a private light aircraft entered the live-fire area. Fishermen were also told to stay away from the area where the exercise was taking place.
"The exercise increases the realism of combat capabilities, a key priority between the Philippine and U.S. militaries," said Lieutenant General William Jurney, commander of U.S. Marine Corps Forces Pacific.
The US and Philippine militaries' show of force in a joint exercise in the South China Sea comes amid rising tensions with China.
The Philippines has filed more than 200 diplomatic protests with China since last year, including at least 77 since President Marcos took office in June 2022.
In February, Mr. Marcos approved a larger U.S. military presence in the Philippines, allowing U.S. forces access to four more bases in the Philippines, in addition to the five bases currently in place.
"It's a major turn from his predecessor Rodrigo Duterte, who was concerned that a larger US military presence could provoke a strong reaction from Beijing," AP commented.
In fact, China has also reacted strongly to this move, warning that the deepening security alliance between Washington and Manila and their ongoing military exercises must not harm Beijing's security and interests.
Source
Comment (0)