MANILA – The United States is deploying around 9,000 troops to the Philippines for joint military exercises, as the two allies strengthen ties amid tensions with China over its activities in the South China Sea and in Taiwan.

The annual drills, which the Philippine military on April 15 described as a rehearsal for national defence, will include 5,000 Filipino troops, 200 from the Australian Defence Force, and observers from the Japan Self-Defence Force.

For the first time, observers from countries like Poland and the Czech Republic will also participate.

While the troop count is lower than 2023’s 17,600, it will be more purposeful, Brigadier-General Michael Logico, spokesman for the event, told reporters.

The annual “Balikatan” – “shoulder-to-shoulder” – drills reflect deepening defence ties between the two allies, as tensions simmer in the South China Sea and around Taiwan, where China recently held large-scale military exercises.

The South China Sea remains a source of tension between China and nations in South-east Asia, with ties between Beijing and Manila at their worst in years amid frequent confrontations that have sparked concerns of a military conflict.

The military exercise verges on “a full battle test, which means we are now treating the exercise as a rehearsal for our defence”, Brig-Gen Logico said.

The drills will emphasise interoperability across domains, including maritime and air defence, and stretch from Palawan to the northern Luzon islands, areas facing the South China Sea and Taiwan.

The locations were not random, said Brig-Gen Logico, adding that “the exercises by themselves can also help in resisting influence operations from other nations”.

During a visit in March, US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth reaffirmed Washington’s “ironclad” commitment under the decades-old Mutual Defence Treaty.

Mr Hegseth pledged to deploy advanced capabilities for the drills to the Philippines, including the Nmesis anti-ship missile system, to help deter threats including Chinese “aggression”.

Brig-Gen Logico said Nmesis was already in the country.

The 2024 exercises saw the debut of the US Army’s Mid-Range Capability system, also known as the Typhon missile system, capable of launching Tomahawks that can reach China and Russia, drawing criticism from China.

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