Philippines plans ambitious exercise with U.S. as concerns over China grow

MANILA — The Philippines and the United States are preparing to hold their most ambitious joint military exercise yet next week as tensions between the Philippines and China escalate in the South China Sea, according to more than a dozen officials.

For the first time since the annual exercise started in 1991, the Philippines and the United States will conduct joint naval drills beyond the 12 nautical miles of the Philippines’ territorial waters, in parts of open sea claimed by China, officials said. More than 16,000 soldiers from the two militaries will operate out of a joint command center to perform four major activities with a focus on countering maritime and air attacks.

Officials said in interviews that in one operation, troops will simultaneously secure two islands along the western and northern coasts of the Philippines before transporting High Mobility Artillery Rocket System, or HIMARS, onto the islands for live-firing exercises. In another operation, Philippine naval vessels will debut a newly procured ship-based missile system, working with U.S. Air Force squadrons to strike and sink a decommissioned ship, said officials.

Throughout the three-week exercise, which is called Balikatan or “shoulder to shoulder” in the Filipino language, battalions from the two countries will focus more than ever before on operating as a single fighting force. Other allies, such as France and Australia, will also participate in certain segments.

“The goal is to make our forces plug and play,” said U.S. Marine Col. Doug Krugman, who led planning for the Marine Corps’ participation.

READ MORE HERE