Renewed Conflict in South China Sea between China and the Philippines, US-Philippine Military Exercises Upgraded to Defense Rehearsal

Amid escalating tensions in the South China Sea, the United States is set to deploy approximately 9,000 soldiers to the Philippines to participate in the annual “Balikatan” joint military exercises alongside 5,000 Filipino troops and 200 Australian defense personnel. The enhanced military cooperation between the US and the Philippines aims to counter China’s expansionist actions in the region.

According to a report by Reuters, the Philippine military has clarified on Tuesday (April 15) that this annual exercise can be viewed as a “defense rehearsal.” The exercise will involve 5,000 Filipino soldiers, 200 Australian defense personnel, and observers from the Japanese Self-Defense Forces.

Philippine military spokesperson, Major General Michael Logico, stated that this military exercise is akin to a “full-scale readiness test,” encompassing joint sea and air operations, defense drills, with locations spanning from Palawan facing the South China Sea to islands near northern Luzon, close to Taiwan.

“This exercise is approaching a full-scale readiness test, which means we now regard it as an actual defense rehearsal,” Logico emphasized during a press conference, highlighting that the chosen areas for the exercises are strategic and aim to deter influences from foreign powers.

The “Balikatan” joint exercise is scheduled to take place from April 21 to May 9. It is noteworthy that observers from countries like Poland and the Czech Republic will be participating for the first time.

At a time when China’s activities in the South China Sea are becoming increasingly assertive, US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth reiterated during his March visit to the Philippines the unwavering nature of the “US-Philippines Mutual Defense Treaty” and pledged to deploy advanced weapon systems, including the NMESIS anti-ship missiles, which are currently stationed in the Philippines. Last year, the US military also deployed the Typhon intermediate-range strike system capable of launching Tomahawk missiles during exercises, prompting strong reactions from China.

Logico emphasized, “Regardless of a country’s size, there is an inalienable right to self-defense and the right to exercise defense capabilities together with allies.”

Meanwhile, on Tuesday, both China and the Philippines were involved in a maritime confrontation near the disputed Scarborough Shoal in the South China Sea, accusing each other of engaging in dangerous actions.

The Philippine Coast Guard alleged that a Chinese coast guard vessel attempted to block the path of a Philippine government vessel, “blatantly disregarding international maritime safety.” Chinese state media Xinhua cited the Chinese coast guard’s rebuttal, claiming that the Philippine vessel was “dangerously approaching” and attempting to stage a collision incident.

Additionally, on the same day, the Philippine Navy deployed patrol aircraft to drive away the largest Chinese research vessel, the “Zhongshan”, which was operating without authorization in the northern exclusive economic zone near Taiwan. The vessel was about 78 nautical miles north of the Bataan Islands and ignored radio calls from the Philippines. The Philippine statement asserted that the Chinese vessel was “unauthorized and had no rights to conduct marine research in the area.”

Sovereignty disputes in the South China Sea have been escalating in recent years, with China asserting almost entire sovereignty over the region, overlapping with the exclusive economic zones claimed by the Philippines, Brunei, Vietnam, Malaysia, and Indonesia. In 2016, an international tribunal in The Hague ruled that China’s extensive sovereignty claims in the South China Sea were invalid, but Beijing has refused to accept the decision.