The US and the Philippines on Tuesday launched their Balikatan exercises, which are being touted as the largest-ever joint military drills between the long-time treaty allies.
The drills are sure to escalate tensions with China and include a provocative show of force in the South China Sea that will involve firing live-fire rounds to sink a target ship off the coast of the Philippine province of Zambales.
“We have to fire at a target that is closer to what we would expect in an actual threat, which is an intrusion coming from an adversary by sea,” said Col. Michael Logico, a Philippine spokesman for the drills, according to AP. “We are demonstrating that we are combat-ready.”
The exercises sparked protests in the Philippines as there is opposition in the country to the growing US-Philippine military ties. Demonstrations were held outside of the US embassy in Manila and outside the Armed Forces of the Philippines headquarters in Quezon City.
More than 17,000 troops will participate in the Balikatan exercises, including 12,000 Americans, and the drills will run until April 28. US and Philippine military officials said the drills will showcase US warships, fighter jets, HIMARS rocket systems, Patriot air defense systems, and Javelin anti-tank missiles.
The drills come after Washington and Manila inked a deal to expand their alliance by allowing a greater US military presence in the Philippines. The US military now has access to four new bases, including three in the north that can be used as staging grounds for a future war over Taiwan and one on the South China Sea island province of Palawan.
The US has repeatedly committed to going to war if Beijing and Manila’s maritime dispute in the South China Sea turns hot. Whenever there are incidents between Chinese and Philippine boats in the waters, the US reminds China that attacks on Philippine vessels would invoke the US-Philippine Mutual Defense Treaty.
What a bunch of a–holes. Holding drills and provoking war at the same time?
So the pinos will be used to fight China in Taiwan … to secure the blessings of freedom to themselves and their posterity.
That is all the deranged Biden team knows. Their names will be on the fall of the American Empire. It lasted barely a century, a short time for World Empire on record. The British Empire lasted longer.
God bless the Filipino people protesting the US and it’s belligerent war mongering. I wish people in my country had a spine and protested the US and it’s BS. But we only bend over for America as it’s biggest b#tch. Australia
Australia is part of the Anglo-Saxon cabal, the USA, UK, Australia, Canada, and New Zealand, if I am not mistaken.
– will involve firing live-fire rounds to sink a target ship –
might think that a single ship to ship missile by uncle sam would do the job
The lead picture of the article is worth a thousand words.
US Daily Planner:
Monday: War games.
Tuesday: War games.
Wednesday: War games.
Thursday: War games.
Friday: War games.
Saturday: War games.
Sunday: Church. We are a Christian nation after all.
Biden must lay awake at night thinking of a way to start another war, with being at war with China and Russia at the same time and have the NATO partners pay in blood and money for Biden’s interests, he would be a bigger name in the history books than Napoleon, and he could tell Hitler in hell that he, Biden was the biggest Field Marshall in history.
One thing for sure, the Philippines provide a big pool of cannon fodder to protect American interests, Ukraine just does not work out as expected, NATO is likely to fall apart, Biden needs a replacement to get ready for China, Taiwan is helpful too.
Wonder how much tax money Marco Jr. got for that purpose? Philippines have more in common with China than with the war mongers in Wash., but money talks, doesn’t it?
I wonder if the Philippines sent all 3 of their PT boats to these “largest ever” joint military drills.
Bongbong (Marcos nickname) has reversed Duterte’s pro-China policy, which is a big mistake:
1. China is Philippines largest foreign customer, by far.
2. Members of the Filipino-Chinese business community, former president Rodrigo Duterte and even Marcos’ sister (a senator) are collectively resisting a fully fledged alignment with the US against China
3. Politically, Marcos went to China in January. news report:
Marcos capped off the state visit by noting how he and Xi “took note of the growing maturity of this bilateral relationship. This bilateral relationship, which now allows both sides to manage differences on the West Philippine Sea so as to not allow it to hinder the rest of our fruitful engagements and multi-faceted cooperation,” he said. “I emphasized to President Xi how my administration intends to pursue an independent foreign policy: that we are more than willing to cooperate whenever possible, in the pursuit of regional peace and our two countries’ national interest,” he added.
4. Economically, the January visit also resulted in BRI investment agreements which may now be dead. According to the Presidential Communications Office, Chinese investors promised over $22.8 billion in investment pledges during the state visit. In a release to media, Malacañang said the investment promises included $1.72 billion for agribusiness, $13.76 billion for renewable energy, and $7.32 billion for strategic monitoring (electric vehicle, mineral processing).
Don’t these countries ever learn?
. . .from the Pentagon:
Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III met with Carlito Galvez Jr., senior undersecretary and officer in charge of the Department of National Defense of the Philippines, to deepen military-to-military contacts between the two nations. . .”This is an historic moment for our alliances as we take critical steps together to deepen our ties and strengthen peace and stability in the region,” Austin said. “We share our vision for a free and open Indo-Pacific — one grounded and transparency, freedom of navigation, the rule of law, respect for sovereignty and the peaceful resolution of disputes.”. . .here