South China Sea: US-Philippine forces fire rockets towards disputed waters, insist drill not meant to be provocation

The rockets were launched towards the South China Sea as part of the Balikatan joint military exercises

Officials emphasised that the live fire drill was not aimed at any specific nation, despite its proximity to the disputed waterways

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A rocket launched using a M142 High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS) from the coastal village of Campong Ulay in Palawan, an island facing the South China Sea, on Thursday as part of this year’s annual Balikatan joint military exercises. Photo: Jeoffrey Maitem

Published: 7:30pm, 2 May 2024Updated: 7:36pm, 2 May 2024

United States and Philippine forces fired a dozen rockets in the direction of the South China Sea as part of this year’s ongoing Balikatan joint military exercises, an act military officials insisted was not meant to provoke any particular country at a time of heightened tensions between Manila and Beijing.

The rockets were launched around 2pm Thursday as part of a live fire drill conducted near the coastal village of Campong Ulay in Palawan, an island facing the South China Sea.

They were fired from two M142 High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems, a light multiple rocket launcher capable of hitting targets as far as 80 kilometres (49.7 miles) away.

Filipino Army Brigadier General Romulo Quemade II was quick to defend conducting the live fire drills near an area of the South China Sea where Beijing and Manila have engaged in numerous maritime skirmishes over territorial rights to the disputed waters.

A Landing Craft Air Cushion carrying an M142 High Mobility Artillery Rocket System seen before the start of the live fire drills. Photo: Jeoffrey Maitem

“We are simulating a threat coming from the sea to our shorelines so we are using our multi-domain capabilities to defend our sovereignty,” he told reporters.