Lucio Blanco Pitlo III

Opinion | US-Philippine drills a further sign Manila may be picking sides amid South China Sea, Taiwan tensions

The scale and context of this year’s Balikatan exercises reflect a shift in geopolitical concerns and Philippines’ growing role in regional security

Manila’s recent security moves may create the impression that it’s writing Washington a blank cheque, and affect how it’s viewed by its neighbours

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A Filipino soldier practises holding a weapon as part of the annual US-Philippines joint “Balikatan” military exercises at Fort Magsaysay in the Philippines on Thursday. Photo: Reuters

Lucio Blanco Pitlo III

Published: 10:00am, 15 Apr 2023Updated: 10:03am, 15 Apr 2023

Some 18,000 soldiers are taking part in the 38th Balikatan exercises, one of the biggest joint annual military drills between long-time allies the Philippines and United States. The exercises, which started on April 11 and will end on April 28, are double the size of last year’s, with two-thirds of participants being American troops.

The scale and context by which the exercises take place, against the backdrop of tensions in the South China Sea and Taiwan Strait, mark a shift in Manila’s foreign policy from hedging between two superpowers to picking a side in the escalating great power competition.

The drills began a day after Beijing concluded its military exercises around Taiwan, and on the same date as US and Philippine defence and foreign affairs ministers held their 2+2 dialogue in Washington, the first in seven years. It also came a week after both sides formally disclosed four additional agreed locations for US military access under the Enhanced Defence Cooperation Agreement (EDCA). Three new sites are in northern Luzon opposite Taiwan, and another is on Balabac Island facing the West Philippine Sea.

The new sites represent a bold step considering that none of the earlier five EDCA areas agreed upon in 2014 directly stared at any flashpoints. Basa Airbase in Pampanga is relatively close to the West Philippine Sea, but is still further inland. Antonio Bautista Air Base in Palawan faces the Sulu Sea. It is also the first time that a naval base – Camilo Osias in Cagayan – is included.

While the five original EDCA locations are existing Philippine military bases, the four new additions include one civilian airport (Lal-lo in Cagayan) and a remote island (Balabac) sitting astride vital surface and submarine traffic routes.

The locations for the exercises are also telling. Batanes province (less than 161km from Taiwan) and Ilocos Norte in Luzon are both in the north, while Zambales and Palawan are washed by the West Philippine Sea.

The exercise activities include maritime security, amphibious and aviation operations, live-fire training and cyber defence. In Zambales, participants will sink a target ship through coordinated land and air strikes, a first of its kind. In Palawan, allied militaries will simulate retaking an island captured by enemy forces.

The equipment that will see action includes mobile land-based Patriot and Avenger missiles and HIMARS rockets. If deployed in northern Luzon and Palawan, they can put targets in waters off southern Taiwan and the South China Sea within range.