The US and Philippines joint military drills after China’s actions
The US and the Philippines carried out their largest-ever joint military drills a day after China completed large-scale activities around Taiwan.
In the span of three days, China’s army rehearsed blockades of Taiwan in reply to the island’s head meeting the US House Speaker last week.
The US and the Philippines prepare for China’s actions against Taiwan:
Washington blamed China’s display of firepower as unnecessary, while Taiwan President Tsai said it was “reckless” and she had the freedom to visit the US.
The US army had been prepared earlier. Filipino and US officers say the drills show their devotion to peace and harmony in the Indo-Pacific territory that is open and free.
Washington declared last month that their yearly Balikatan exercise with the Philippines would be their biggest ever – concerning more than 17,000 soldiers, including 12,000 US troops.
The two-week Balikatan drill will also see the armies conduct an exercise to blow up a mock target warship in the South China Sea – a move that could incur China’s anger.
The activities, however, should not be considered as a reply to developments in Taiwan, US and Filipino military officers said.
In February, Washington ensured a new defence agreement with Manila where four new naval bases would be based on Philippine islands near challenged waters.
Three of these camps are to the north of Luzon Island, the closest bit of land to Taiwan except for China.
The canals around the Philippines and in the South China Sea have some of the planet’s most valuable trade routes and have been the topic of disputed territorial claims by China in current years.
On Monday, as China completed its drills where it deployed fighter planes and a plane carrier around Taiwan, the US sent a naval destroyer through the South China Sea in what it called a space of navigation mission.
The US sent the USS Milius above the Spratly Islands, which lie in the Philippines’ only economic area but are declared by Beijing.
