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US and Philippines
begin war games amid China tensions
AFP, MANILA
Thousands of US and Filipino troops began annual military exercises yesterday
which the Philippines said were vital to building its defense capabilities
against the rising threat of China.
Philippine Foreign Secretary Albert del Rosario used the launch of the 12-day
Balikatan (shoulder-to-shoulder) maneuvers to accuse China of destabilizing Asia
with aggressive and illegal actions in the South China Sea.
ˇ§For our region, excessive and exaggerated maritime and territorial claims have
not only created uncertainty, but have undermined the rule of law,ˇ¨ Del Rosario
said in a speech at the military headquarters in Metro Manila. ˇ§Regional peace
and stability have been placed at serious risk.ˇ¨
Del Rosario later told reporters he was referring specifically to China.
China claims most of the South China Sea, including waters and tiny rock
outcrops near the coasts of smaller neighbors such as the Philippines.
Tensions have escalated in recent years as China has sought to stamp its
authority over the region. The Philippines has accused China of occupying a
shoal close to its main island and has appealed to the UN to rule on the
validity of Chinese claims to the resource-rich sea.
The Philippines has sought closer diplomatic and military ties with the US, its
former colonial ruler, amid the rising tensions.
The two countries share a 61-year-old mutual defense pact, which requires that
the US comes to the aid of the Philippines if it is attacked.
Del Rosario said the Balikatan exercises are very important.
ˇ§For my country, we need to secure our borders and protect our territorial
integrity more vigorously than we have before,ˇ¨ he said. ˇ§Balikatan, with its
complicated and complete set of exercises, is an important contribution in not
only preparing both our armed forces to work together, but also in building my
countryˇ¦s own capacity to defend itself.ˇ¨
The maneuvers involve more than 8,000 US and Filipino troops, 30 military
aircraft, including a dozen US F/A-18 Hornets, and three naval vessels, the two
countries said.
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