First Joint US-Philippines Military Drill in South China Sea Includes Live-Fire Exercise.

As part of this year’s ongoing “Balikatan” joint military exercise, the US and Philippine troops fired over a dozen rockets towards the South China Sea. Military officials insist that the exercise is not intended to provoke any specific country.

The rockets were launched around 2 pm local time on Thursday (May 2) near the coastal village of Campong Ulay on Palawan Island, facing the South China Sea, as part of live-fire drills.

The rockets were fired from two sets of M142 High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems, a light multiple rocket launcher capable of hitting targets up to 80 kilometers (49.7 miles) away.

Beijing and Manila have had maritime conflicts over territorial claims in the South China Sea.

Philippine Army Major General Romulo Quemade II immediately explained that the live-fire exercises near the South China Sea are meant to simulate threats to their coastline from the sea, to utilize their multifaceted capabilities in defending their sovereignty.

He added, “Our coastline is quite long, and we are simply conducting exercises within our maritime and territorial jurisdiction.”

The annual “Balikatan” military exercise, which began on April 22, involves over 16,000 US soldiers, 5,000 Filipino soldiers, and armed forces from Australia and France, making it the largest in history. This year’s exercise, spanning three weeks, for the first time extends beyond the Philippines’ 12-mile territorial waters boundary and will run until May 8.

US Army Major General Bernard Harrington, commander of the 1st Special Forces Group, stated after the live-fire exercises involving artillery, machine guns, and “Javelin” anti-tank missiles that the drills do not target any specific opponent. He emphasized that all activities are conducted within Philippine territory due to the close cooperation between US and Filipino armed forces.

The 39th “Balikatan” annual military exercise is held under the 1951 Mutual Defense Treaty between the Philippines and the US, requiring mutual assistance in the event of external threats. The Pentagon has affirmed its readiness to provide assistance should Manila invoke the treaty against threats from other countries.

The main activities of this year’s “Balikatan” exercise are scheduled to take place on Friday in northern Luzon, where forces will coordinate to sink a mock target, the Philippine Navy’s Caliraya Lake destroyer. Manila stated that the target selection was not intentional.

Lawmakers in Manila have stressed that the purpose of the exercises is to enhance interoperability and strengthen partnerships, not to target any aggressor nation.

Philippine Defense Committee Chairman and Senator Jinggoy Estrada emphasized that the exercises are not aimed at any specific country and not to deter China’s threatening actions against Philippine vessels.

He reiterated Manila’s commitment to lawful activities within its jurisdiction and its dedication to promoting peace and stability in the region.

Senator Francis Tolentino echoed Estrada’s stance, stating, “We should believe in the effectiveness of our alliances rather than the unfounded actions of those attempting to divert our attention.”

The most recent maritime clash between the Philippines and Chinese Coast Guard near disputed areas in the South China Sea occurred on April 30 when a Philippine Coast Guard vessel and a Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources ship were damaged by water cannon fire from Chinese forces near Scarborough Shoal.

Senate Majority Leader Joel Villanueva stated in a recent release that China’s bullying tactics and intimidation will not affect the Philippines’ sovereign rights in its exclusive economic zone.

He asserted, “Whatever they do, it will not diminish our sovereign rights over the West Philippine Sea (Manila’s term for the part of the South China Sea within its exclusive economic zone), particularly Scarborough Shoal, which is evidently within our exclusive economic zone.”

China, along with the Philippines, Malaysia, Brunei, and Vietnam, all claim sovereignty in the South China Sea.

In 2016, a UN arbitration tribunal rejected China’s historical claims in the South China Sea, including the now ten-dash line it depicted on maps. China refused to accept the ruling and continues to assert jurisdiction over all territories within that boundary.

(*This article referenced reporting from South China Morning Post.)