China warned the US, Japan, and the Philippines against “playing with fire” as they launched their largest-ever joint drills. The exercises involve 17,000 troops and advanced weapons, amid rising regional tensions.

China warned the US, Japan, and the Philippines against “playing with fire” as they launched their largest-ever joint drills. The exercises involve 17,000 troops and advanced weapons, amid rising regional tensions.

‘Playing with fire’: China warns as US, Philippines, Japan begin ‘biggest ever’ war games

For the first time in decades, the United States and the Philippines on Tuesday launched their largest combat exercises including live-fire drills in waters across the South China Sea and the Taiwan Strait, that will probably inflame China.&nbsp;

The annual drills with longtime treaty allies called 'Balikatan' will run up to April 28 and will involve over 17,500 military personnel. According to US and Philippine officials, American warships, fighter jets, Patriot missiles, HIMARS rocket launchers and&nbsp;anti-tank Javelins will also be showcased. They added that some 12,200 US military personnel, 5,400 Filipino forces and 111 Australian counterparts will also be taking part, Associated Press reported.&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/taiwan-detects-nine-chinese-warships-26-aircraft-after-beijing-announced-the-end-of-military-drills-581193">Also read |&nbsp;Taiwan detects nine Chinese warships, 26 aircraft after Beijing announced end of military drills</a>

This initiative&nbsp;by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr is to defend the Philippines' territorial interests in the South China Sea by boosting military ties with the US and allowing batches of American forces to stay in more Philippine military camps under the 2014 defence pact.&nbsp;

A Philippine spokesman for Balikatan, Col. Michael Logico said, "We are not provoking anybody by simply exercising." "This is actually a form of deterrence. Deterrence is when we are discouraging other parties from invading us."

Logico giving details on the live drill said that allied forces would stage an offshore for the first time, with both US and Filipino forces to&nbsp;sink a 200-foot (61 metres) target vessel in Philippine territorial waters off the western province of Zambales this month, in a coordinated airstrike and artillery bombardment.&nbsp;

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Denying targeting any country,&nbsp;Philippine military officials said the manoeuvre was aimed at boosting&nbsp;the country’s coastal defence.&nbsp;

The US Embassy in Manila said that such field scenarios will "test the allies’ capabilities in combined arms live-fire, information and intelligence sharing, communications between manoeuvre&nbsp;units, logistics operations and amphibious operations."

US&nbsp;Marine Maj. Gen. Eric Austin said, "The relationships that we have, that we build into these exercises, will make us faster to respond to conflict, crisis, humanitarian assistance and disaster relief."

Logico claimed that with help of these drill&nbsp;exercises, they will retake&nbsp;an island&nbsp;in the western Palawan province, captured by enemy forces.&nbsp;

The Balikatan drills come after&nbsp;China last week conducted a three-day combat drill following Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen's meeting with US House Speaker Kevin McCarthy.

China has been repeatedly warning the US about intensifying its military deployment to the region. Chinese Foreign Minister Mao Ning in a news briefing said that such actions will only lead to more tension and less peace and stability in the region.&nbsp;

Recently after China announced the completion of its military drills, Taiwan’s defence ministry claimed it detected nine Chinese warships and 26 aircraft around the self-governing island.

(with inputs from agencies)

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For the first time in decades, the United States and the Philippines on Tuesday launched their largest combat exercises including live-fire drills in waters across the South China Sea and the Taiwan Strait, that will probably inflame China.

For the first time in decades, the United States and the Philippines on Tuesday launched their largest combat exercises including live-fire drills in waters across the South China Sea and the Taiwan Strait, that will probably inflame China. The annual drills with longtime treaty allies called 'Balikatan' will run up to April 28 and will involve over 17,500 military personnel. According to US and Philippine officials, American warships, fighter jets, Patriot missiles, HIMARS rocket launchers and anti-tank Javelins will also be showcased. They added that some 12,200 US military personnel, 5,400 Filipino forces and 111 Australian counterparts will also be taking part, Associated Press reported. Also read | Taiwan detects nine Chinese warships, 26 aircraft after Beijing announced end of military drills This initiative by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr is to defend the Philippines' territorial interests in the South China Sea by boosting military ties with the US and allowing batches of American forces to stay in more Philippine military camps under the 2014 defence pact. A Philippine spokesman for Balikatan, Col. Michael Logico said, "We are not provoking anybody by simply exercising." "This is actually a form of deterrence. Deterrence is when we are discouraging other parties from invading us." Logico giving details on the live drill said that allied forces would stage an offshore for the first time, with both US and Filipino forces to sink a 200-foot (61 metres) target vessel in Philippine territorial waters off the western province of Zambales this month, in a coordinated airstrike and artillery bombardment. Also read | Major leak of classified US documents may have started in chatroom for gamers: Report Denying targeting any country, Philippine military officials said the manoeuvre was aimed at boosting the country’s coastal defence. The US Embassy in Manila said that such field scenarios will "test the allies’ capabilities in combined arms live-fire, information and intelligence sharing, communications between manoeuvre units, logistics operations and amphibious operations." US Marine Maj. Gen. Eric Austin said, "The relationships that we have, that we build into these exercises, will make us faster to respond to conflict, crisis, humanitarian assistance and disaster relief." Logico claimed that with help of these drill exercises, they will retake an island in the western Palawan province, captured by enemy forces. The Balikatan drills come after China last week conducted a three-day combat drill following Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen's meeting with US House Speaker Kevin McCarthy. China has been repeatedly warning the US about intensifying its military deployment to the region. Chinese Foreign Minister Mao Ning in a news briefing said that such actions will only lead to more tension and less peace and stability in the region. Recently after China announced the completion of its military drills, Taiwan’s defence ministry claimed it detected nine Chinese warships and 26 aircraft around the self-governing island. (with inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE

US and Philippines hold largest war drills near disputed waters after Chinese exercises

Philippines on Monday held the biggest military exercises in seven years with the United States as China continues to impose its presence over the South China Sea.

The annual exercises, called Balikatan, Tagalog for shoulder-to-shoulder, will run up to April 8 with nearly 9,000 navy, marines, air force and army troops, including 5,100 American military personnel, to strengthen the longtime treaty allies’ “capabilities and readiness for real-world challenges,” US and Philippine military officials said.

Since taking office in 2016, Duterte had sought closer ties with China in exchange for pledges of loans, aid and investment, and distanced himself from the United States, a treaty ally.

But last year he withdrew a threat to scrap a two-decade old pact governing the presence of US troops in the Southeast Asian country.

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"We are sending a message to the world that the alliance between our countries is stronger than ever," Philippine Defence Secretary Delfin Lorenzana said in a statement.

The treaty alliance “declares formally our sense of unity and determination to mutually defend against external armed attack, so that no potential aggressor could be under the impression that either of them stands alone,” Philippine military spokesman Col. Ramon Zagala said.

The exercises will cover maritime security, amphibious operation, live-fire training and counterterrorism, as well as humanitarian assistance and disaster relief.

Recent manoeuvres between the two countries focused on potential conflict in the South China Sea, which Beijing claims almost in its entirety.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/philippines-slams-chinese-ships-close-distance-maneuvering-at-scarborough-shoal-465925">Also read |&nbsp;Philippines slams Chinese ship's 'close distance maneuvering' at Scarborough Shoal</a>

Trillions of dollars in trade pass through the strategic sea and it is thought to contain rich petroleum deposits, making it a frequent source of regional friction.

China will likely frown on the war drills given their relative proximity to Taiwan, which it claims as Chinese territory, but organisers said the exercises don’t regard any particular country as a target.

In what it calls a warning to Taiwan independence supporters and their foreign allies, China has been staging threatening exercises and flying military planes near the island’s airspace, including on February 24, when Russia began its invasion of Ukraine.

The US and its allies are providing defensive weapons to Kyiv and imposing crippling economic sanctions on Moscow.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/leading-energy-analyst-says-russian-gas-sales-to-china-will-not-make-up-for-loss-of-european-markets-465956" hreflang="en">Leading energy analyst says Russian gas sales to China 'will not make up for loss of European markets'</a>

Duterte, whose six-year term ends in June, has expressed concern that the Philippines was "involved" in the conflict because of its security alliance with the United States.

That includes a mutual defence treaty and permission for the US military to store defence equipment and supplies on several Philippine bases.

Chinese officials led by President Xi Jinping say they are committed to using peaceful means to bring Taiwan under Beijing’s control. The US has consistently expressed its support for ensuring that Taiwan can defend itself, and Chinese military action against the island in the short- to medium-term is generally considered a remote possibility.

The Balikatan deployment in 2017 had been nearly halved to 5,500 troops from the previous year and stripped of all combat-related exercises at the behest of Duterte, who had viewed them as an obstacle to rapprochement with China.

Live fire exercises returned in 2018 and 2019 but the scale of the drills remained smaller and in 2020 they were cancelled due to the pandemic, while only 640 troops took part last year.

Despite efforts to build closer ties, the Philippines has become more critical of Beijing's actions, including what it calls "swarming" by fishing vessels manned by militia off the disputed Spratly islands, and a blockade of a military resupply mission last year.

Manila also recently summoned China's ambassador over what it called the "illegal intrusion and lingering presence" of a Chinese navy vessel.

China claims most of the South China Sea, through which about $3 trillion in ship-borne trade passes every year. Brunei, Malaysia, the Philippines, Vietnam and Taiwan also have claims on the waterway. 
&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp;

Philippines on Monday held the biggest military exercises in seven years with the United States as China continues to impose its presence over the South China Sea.

Philippines on Monday held the biggest military exercises in seven years with the United States as China continues to impose its presence over the South China Sea. The annual exercises, called Balikatan, Tagalog for shoulder-to-shoulder, will run up to April 8 with nearly 9,000 navy, marines, air force and army troops, including 5,100 American military personnel, to strengthen the longtime treaty allies’ “capabilities and readiness for real-world challenges,” US and Philippine military officials said. Since taking office in 2016, Duterte had sought closer ties with China in exchange for pledges of loans, aid and investment, and distanced himself from the United States, a treaty ally. But last year he withdrew a threat to scrap a two-decade old pact governing the presence of US troops in the Southeast Asian country. "We are sending a message to the world that the alliance between our countries is stronger than ever," Philippine Defence Secretary Delfin Lorenzana said in a statement. The treaty alliance “declares formally our sense of unity and determination to mutually defend against external armed attack, so that no potential aggressor could be under the impression that either of them stands alone,” Philippine military spokesman Col. Ramon Zagala said. The exercises will cover maritime security, amphibious operation, live-fire training and counterterrorism, as well as humanitarian assistance and disaster relief. Recent manoeuvres between the two countries focused on potential conflict in the South China Sea, which Beijing claims almost in its entirety. Also read | Philippines slams Chinese ship's 'close distance maneuvering' at Scarborough Shoal Trillions of dollars in trade pass through the strategic sea and it is thought to contain rich petroleum deposits, making it a frequent source of regional friction. China will likely frown on the war drills given their relative proximity to Taiwan, which it claims as Chinese territory, but organisers said the exercises don’t regard any particular country as a target. In what it calls a warning to Taiwan independence supporters and their foreign allies, China has been staging threatening exercises and flying military planes near the island’s airspace, including on February 24, when Russia began its invasion of Ukraine. The US and its allies are providing defensive weapons to Kyiv and imposing crippling economic sanctions on Moscow. Also read | Leading energy analyst says Russian gas sales to China 'will not make up for loss of European markets' Duterte, whose six-year term ends in June, has expressed concern that the Philippines was "involved" in the conflict because of its security alliance with the United States. That includes a mutual defence treaty and permission for the US military to store defence equipment and supplies on several Philippine bases. Chinese officials led by President Xi Jinping say they are committed to using peaceful means to bring Taiwan under Beijing’s control. The US has consistently expressed its support for ensuring that Taiwan can defend itself, and Chinese military action against the island in the short- to medium-term is generally considered a remote possibility. The Balikatan deployment in 2017 had been nearly halved to 5,500 troops from the previous year and stripped of all combat-related exercises at the behest of Duterte, who had viewed them as an obstacle to rapprochement with China. Live fire exercises returned in 2018 and 2019 but the scale of the drills remained smaller and in 2020 they were cancelled due to the pandemic, while only 640 troops took part last year. Despite efforts to build closer ties, the Philippines has become more critical of Beijing's actions, including what it calls "swarming" by fishing vessels manned by militia off the disputed Spratly islands, and a blockade of a military resupply mission last year. Manila also recently summoned China's ambassador over what it called the "illegal intrusion and lingering presence" of a Chinese navy vessel. China claims most of the South China Sea, through which about $3 trillion in ship-borne trade passes every year. Brunei, Malaysia, the Philippines, Vietnam and Taiwan also have claims on the waterway. (With inputs from agencies)

Philippines holds biggest military exercises in seven years with US amid South China Sea tensions

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