U.S. military personnel have visited a Chinese-linked steel plant in southern Philippines to scout potential sites for a future exercise, the U.S. Embassy said.
The first half of May is foreshadowing the future of Indo-Pacific security. Why it matters: Long-term competition between the U.S., China and their friends — on AI, chips, cybersecurity, freedom of navigation, narrative influence, supply chains and more — is reshaping the world. In just two weeks: - The U.S. and Japan, participating in Balikatan drills, fired a Tomahawk missile with a Typhon launcher and ship-sinking Type 88 missiles from the Philippines — a first and, from Beijing's view, a provocation. - Japan inked a defense cooperation agreement with Indonesia, hot on the heels of loosened arms-exporting restrictions. - Taiwan's legislature approved $25 billion in special funding to buy weapons. The move follows months of…
Originally posted by Asia Times
Balakitan gives troops from Philippines, US, Japan, Australia, New Zealand, Canada and France real combat training – and a lot of it In the Balikatan military exercise, taking place in the Philippines, troops from the Philippines, US, Japan, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, and France have been getting real combat training – and a lot of it. It’s conducted with China in mind – even if nobody will say so. That’s the etiquette. Furthermore, the forces are training in the area that would be part of the “operational area” in the event the People’s Liberation Army moves against Taiwan. This includes the northern Philippines facing the South China Sea and the Luzon Strait, also known as the Bashi Channel, between Taiwan and…Open
American and Filipino forces, with troops from five other nations, wrapped up the annual Balikatan exercise in the Philippines.
U.S. soldiers are assembling advanced military drones by hand during Balikatan joint exercises in jungle terrain north of Manila, Philippines.
Balikatan, the annual joint training between the United States and the Philippines, drew about 17,000 troops from seven nations this year.
The focus of Nuñez’s visit to the Philippines was to meet with the Reservists instructing leadership courses at the Philippine Air Force Leader Development Center.
Original interview by The John Batchelor Show
Grant Newsham. Retired Marine Colonel Newsham explains Japan’s participation in the Balikatan combat exercises in the Philippines. This shift toward active military training under Prime Minister Takayichi aims to counter Chinese aggression. Beijing strongly opposes this enhanced US-Japan defense link, fearing its combined strategic capabilities. Listen hereOpen
The Balikatan exercise will include more than 17,000 troops from the United States and six allied nations, U.S. and Philippine officials said.
The U.S. Marine Corps has for the first time sent prepositioned military equipment to Mindanao ahead of a major joint exercise later this month.