Some fear US-Philippines war games are drawing conflict closer to home | Military News
US-Philippines Military Exercises Raise Concerns in Ilocos Norte
QUEZON CITY, Philippines – Earlier this month, Father Arvin Mangrubang of the Philippine Independent Church witnessed a convoy of armored vehicles and trucks carrying U.S. soldiers on a highway in Ilocos Norte province. His reaction was a mix of unease and resignation as he noticed the normalization of military presence in the region.
“It’s become so normalized around here, the military, the threat of war,” Mangrubang told Al Jazeera. Ilocos Norte, located along the South China Sea, is approximately 345 kilometers south of Taiwan and frequently serves as a site for military exercises, notably the recently concluded Balikatan (Shoulder-to-Shoulder) joint military drills.
Father Mangrubang mentioned that U.S. troops are typically present year-round, but their operations intensify during the spring months of April and May. The heightened military activity during Balikatan transforms the occasional reminders of potential conflict into a more immediate sense of foreboding.
“This constant display of tanks, drones, and loud gunfire sends everyone into a fright, especially those living close to the operations,” he added.
This year, Balikatan marked its largest iteration yet, with over 17,000 soldiers participating from six nations alongside the Philippines. Approximately 10,000 of these personnel were from the U.S., with additional troops from Canada, Japan, Australia, France, and New Zealand.
Analysts assert that these war games serve as a provocation to China, the U.S. military’s primary rival in East Asia, amid ongoing tensions related to Iran. Locally, fishing and farming communities have reported disruptions to their livelihoods due to the military exercises.
Raymond Palatino, secretary-general of Bayan, a coalition of activist groups, contends that the Philippines should distance itself from U.S. military involvement, advocating for an end to joint exercises. He argued that such initiatives enable the U.S. “war machine” to extend its reach from West Asia to the West Philippine Sea.
Protests against Balikatan occurred at military and U.S. Embassy locations in Manila, with activists expressing concerns that the U.S. military presence could increase the Philippines’ vulnerability to conflicts involving Washington’s adversaries.
Philippine Major General Francisco Lorenzo Jr., local director of the Balikatan exercises, dismissed any connection between these drills and U.S. military actions in Iran. He emphasized that the exercises posed no challenges to other nations, particularly China.
Opponents within the Philippines, including representatives from the Communist Party of the Philippines, scorned claims that Balikatan serves a defensive purpose. Marco Valbuena, a spokesperson for the party, described such assertions as misleading, asserting that the exercises further entrench U.S. military influence in the Philippines.
The U.S. is the largest provider of military aid to the Philippines, having delivered over $1.14 billion in military equipment to the country between 2015 and 2022. Recent congressional approval promises an additional $2.5 billion in security assistance through 2030.
Renato De Castro, an international studies professor, emphasized that this year’s Balikatan conveys a dual message: demonstrating U.S. military capability across multiple frontiers simultaneously. Professor Roland Simbulan highlighted that U.S. military resources in the Philippines serve as crucial logistical support in Southeast Asia.
Recent developments include the U.S. deploying advanced missile systems capable of launching Tomahawk and SM-6 missiles in Ilocos Norte and, for the first time in Balikatan history, launching a Tomahawk missile during the drills. Activists criticized this action, claiming it interjects the Philippines into broader international conflicts.
The ongoing exercises prompted the Philippine military to declare a “no sail zone” along certain coastal areas, affecting local fishermen’s livelihoods. Ronnel Arambulo of the Pamalakaya organization criticized this restriction, emphasizing the essential role of fishing communities, especially during economic hardships exacerbated by rising oil prices.
Colonel Dennis Hernandez, Balikatan spokesperson, stated that the military was working to minimize disruption to local communities. However, as tensions between China and the Philippines continue, warnings from Beijing have surfaced. Chinese military drills in proximity to the Philippines coincided with Balikatan, fueling regional tensions.
In light of the Philippines’ favorable legal ruling over Chinese claims to the South China Sea, the geopolitical landscape remains complex. Both nations continue to clash over territorial disputes, raising concerns about the implications of the U.S.-Philippines alliance in an increasingly polarized geopolitical environment.
