MANILA: The Philippines and the United States will this year carry out their biggest joint military drills since 2015, Manila鈥檚 army chief said on Wednesday, against a backdrop of growing tensions with China in the South China Sea.
The exercises underscore improved ties with the United States under President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., and come as the Philippines condemns China鈥檚 鈥渁ggressive鈥� actions in the disputed waterway, including its use of a 鈥渕ilitary-grade laser鈥� against one of Manila鈥檚 vessels earlier this month.
The annual 鈥楤alikatan鈥� exercises will be conducted in the second quarter and involve more than the previous year鈥檚 8,900 troops, army chief Romeo Brawner told reporters.
鈥淎ll of these exercises that we are doing are in response to all types of threats that we may be facing in the future, both man-made and natural,鈥� Brawner said.
President Marcos on Tuesday summoned China鈥檚 ambassador to express 鈥渟erious concern鈥� over the intensity and frequency of China鈥檚 activities in the South China Sea, most of which China claims as its territory.
China鈥檚 use of a laser against a Philippine vessel on Feb. 6, which its foreign ministry insists was legal, has sparked expressions of concerns and support from Australia, Japan, and the United States.
Washington 鈥渨ill redouble its efforts with our Philippine ally鈥� to bolster the Philippine military and coast guard鈥檚 defense capabilities 鈥渁s we work shoulder-to-shoulder to uphold the rules-based international order,鈥� Pentagon spokesperson Brig. Gen. Patrick Ryder said on Twitter.
The Philippines has granted Washington greater access to its military bases as part of the latter鈥檚 efforts to deter China鈥檚 increasing assertiveness in the South China Sea and tension over self-ruled Taiwan.
In 2015, more than 11,000 troops from both countries participated in the joint military exercises.
鈥淭he exercises will involve a myriad of activities, not just focused on developing the war fighting capability of both armed forces, but also of the other non-traditional roles such as humanitarian assistance and disaster response,鈥� Brawner said.