US and Philippine forces stage combat drills near strategic channel off southern Taiwan

ITBAYAT, Philippines — U.S. Marines and their Philippine counterparts fired from Black Hawk helicopters Monday during combat exercises in the Philippines’ northernmost island city, along the strategic Bashi Channel off the coast of southern Taiwan.

The show of allied combat readiness in Itbayat in Batanes province is part of annual military exercises that started last month and called Balikatan, Tagalog for “shoulder to shoulder,” involving more than 16,000 U.S. and Philippine military personnel.

This year’s drills by the old allies – the largest yet – are aimed at deterring potential aggression. They come against the backdrop of China’s increasingly assertive actions in the disputed South China Sea, where Chinese and Philippine coastguards and escort ships have had several increasingly tense confrontations since last year.

More than 250 French and Australian armed forces are also participating, along with observers from several allied and security partner countries, led by Japan and European countries. The exercises, which started on April 22, will end later this week.

In Monday’s mock battle, U.S. and Philippine forces took up positions at the airfield surrounded by low-lying hills while three Army CH-47 Chinook helicopters landed to deliver combat supplies.

Marine 1st Lt. Annie Pentaleri said air combat reconnaissance and counter-reconnaissance exercises would also take place in the remote region. The Associated Press was among a small group of journalists invited to witness the maneuvers.

“We are absolutely ready for battle and that is what we train for day in and day out,” said Marine Maj. Robert Patterson. “It is important to improve interoperability with our Philippine counterparts.”

Washington and Manila say the exercises are not aimed at any country and are crucial to improving emergency response in the Philippines, one of the world’s most disaster-prone countries.

However, this year’s exercises are focused on territorial defense and are taking place mainly on two of the most sensitive fault lines in the regional rivalry between China and the United States: the disputed South China Sea and the Bashi Canal.

The critical waterway between Taiwan and the Philippines, a key trade channel laden with international undersea cables, is closely watched and guarded by Chinese and US forces. China views Taiwan as part of its territory, which will be annexed by force if necessary.

In a phone call last month, Chinese President Xi Jinping stressed to President Joe Biden that Beijing will not tolerate separatist activities by Taiwan’s independence forces, nor “indulgence and support from outside,” an apparent reference to Washington’s support for the island.

Biden expressed concern about China’s actions in the South China Sea, including efforts to prevent the Philippines, which Washington is required to defend under the treaty, from supplying its troops on the hotly contested Second Thomas Shoal.

The Balikatan exercises include live-fire drills in the disputed South China Sea during joint naval sails by the US, France and the Philippines. A plane also dropped food and other supplies on a disputed island occupied by Philippine forces as part of maneuvers in the disputed waters.

On Monday, U.S. and Philippine forces separately practiced fending off invading forces in the coastal province of Ilocos Norte by firing rockets and artillery rounds at floating targets at sea. The northwestern province faces the South China Sea.

“It was a huge success, the weapons were perfect,” said Navy Lt. Gen. Michael Cederholm.

In escalating clashes on the high seas in disputed areas, Chinese coast guard ships have resorted to water cannons, blockades and other dangerous maneuvers that injured Philippine naval personnel and damaged supply boats. The Biden administration has repeatedly warned that the US is obliged to defend the Philippines, its oldest treaty ally in Asia, if it comes under attack.

Washington does not claim the disputed waters but has stated that freedom of navigation and overflight and the peaceful resolution of the disputes are in its national interest.

China has strongly criticized the drills, saying the Philippines and countries outside Asia are joining forces against Beijing, and warning the drills could lead to confrontation and undermine regional stability.

Before the exercises, China specifically opposed the transport of a US ground-launched missile system to the northern Philippines. No missile was allowed to be fired as the purpose was only to familiarize military participants with the hi-tech weapons in a tropical environment.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian expressed China’s serious concerns about the deployment of the missile system “on China’s doorstep.”