US, Philippine forces begin war drills

[luv2fly]

Tue, Mar 29, 2022
US, Philippine forces begin war drills
SHOULDER-TO-SHOULDER: Colonel Ramon Zagala said most of the maneuvers had been planned a year ago and did not consider the tensions in the Taiwan Strait
AP, MANILA

Thousands of US and Philippine troops yesterday began one of their largest combat exercises in years that was to include live-fire maneuvers, aircraft assaults, urban warfare and beach landings, in a showcase of US firepower in the northern Philippines near its sea border with Taiwan.

The annual exercises, called Balikatan — Filipino for “shoulder-to-shoulder” — are to run until Friday next week with nearly 9,000 navy, marines, air force and army troops, including 5,100 US military personnel, to strengthen the allies’ “capabilities and readiness for real-world challenges,” US and Philippine military officials said.

China would likely frown on the war drills given their relative proximity to Taiwan, but organizers said the exercises do not regard any particular nation as a target.

"The US military and Armed Forces of the Philippines will train together to expand and advance shared tactics, techniques and procedures that strengthen our response capabilities and readiness for real-world challenges,” said Major General Jay Bargeron, the US Third Marine Division’s commanding general. “Our alliance remains a key source of strength and stability in the Indo-Pacific region.”

More at

https://www.taipeitimes.com/News/front/archives/2022/03/29/2003775634