Balikatan 2024: missiles, military aid, China tensions in focus as ‘biggest ever’ US-Philippines drills begin

This year’s Balikatan drills kicked off as Manila received BrahMos cruise missiles from India – and had hopes for US$2.5 billion in US military aid

Manila’s armed forces chief says Balikatan is all about ‘peace and security’. Critics call it ‘warmongering’ by the US in it ‘proxy war with China’

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US and Filipino Marines take part in a jungle survival drill in the mountains of Maguindanao, southern Philippines, earlier this month as part of joint US-Philippines military exercises. Photo: AFP

Published: 12:49pm, 23 Apr 2024Updated: 2:33pm, 23 Apr 2024

The start of this year’s annual joint US-Philippines military exercises on Monday coincided with Manila’s acquisition of several new missile systems – and a proposal from Washington to send an additional US$2.5 billion in military aid to the Southeast Asian nation.

It comes at a time of increased tensions between Manila and Beijing in the South China Sea, with the Philippines looking to counter Chinese expansionist efforts by bolstering defensive capabilities, both through the purchase of new equipment and strengthened cooperation with allies such as the United States and Japan.

The 39th Balikatan (“shoulder to shoulder” in Tagalog) exercises, which will continue through May 8, are set to involve 16,000 armed-forces personnel and observers from 14 countries.

Speaking at the opening ceremony on Monday, Philippine armed forces chief General Romeo Brawner Jnr said the drills represent “the essence of unity, collective responsibility and enduring partnership” between the Philippines and the US “and our partners”.

“It is not a partnership of convenience but rather a clear reflection of our shared history, unwavering commitment to democracy and respect for international law in our pursuit of peace and security in the Indo-Pacific region,” he said.

Although none of the speakers at the opening ceremony mentioned China, Beijing’s presence has loomed large in advance of this year’s exercises, given the numerous run-ins its naval forces have had with Philippine vessels in recent months, particularly around the highly contested Second Thomas Shoal in the South China Sea.