US and Philippines kick-off large scale exercise amid growing Asia-Pacific tensions

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US and Philippines kick-off large scale exercise amid growing Asia-Pacific tensions


Balikatan, an annual joint drill between US and the Philippines, has rung the alarm from China. What’s different about it this year? 
 
This year’s exercise will be the largest yet, with 17,000 troops from US, the Philippines, Australia, and France. The participants will simulate sinking an enemy warship and capturing islands in areas facing Taiwan and the South China Sea.  
 
Notably, they will conduct their first ever exercise beyond Philippine territorial waters into contested waters. Additionally, the Philippine Army will train in the use of medium-range missiles, deployed for the first time to Asia Pacific by the US just last week.  
 
China has slammed the exercise for bearing a destructive impact on regional security. It criticized the Philippines for bringing in external forces to “flex muscles and stoke tensions”, warning the latter would “turn itself into someone else’s chess piece.”



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