Launch of Balikatan drills with US, allies draws sharp China warning

By Kaela Patricia B. Gabriel

CHINA on Monday criticized the expansion of joint military exercises in the Philippines involving the US and allied nations, warning that “external forces” in the Asia-Pacific region risk deepening division and undermining regional trust as the Balikatan (shoulder-to-shoulder) drills formally opened.

“What the Asia-Pacific region most needs is peace and tranquility, and what it least needs is the introduction of external forces to create division and confrontation,” Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Guo Jiakun told a news briefing in Beijing.

He added that countries that continue “tying themselves together on security” would ultimately face consequences, remarks that came as Manila and Washington launched the 41^st Balikatan exercises — now the biggest iteration of the annual drills.

The Philippines and the US opened the military exercises on Monday with about 17,000 troops from seven countries taking part. The lineup includes longstanding partners Australia and the US, alongside first-time participants Japan, Canada, France and New Zealand, reflecting the widening scope of the multilateral defense activity.

US Lieutenant General Christian F. Wortman, commanding general of the I Marine Expeditionary Force, said about 10,000 American personnel were deployed for the exercises, which will run until May 8.

He stressed that the drills are not aimed at any specific country, including China, despite rising tensions in the South China Sea and broader geopolitical competition in the region.

“It’s about enhancing our interoperability, strengthening our readiness and supporting our ability to contribute to security in the region,” Mr. Wortman told a news briefing in Manila after the opening ceremonies. “But there is no target nation in terms of an adversary force that we’re exercising against.”

The exercises will include integrated air and missile defense, amphibious counter-landing live-fire drills, maritime security operations, and humanitarian assistance and disaster response activities across multiple domains.

US Chargé d’Affaires ad interim Robert Ewing said the Balikatan exercises mark the 75^th anniversary of the Mutual Defense Treaty between the Philippines and the US, underscoring longstanding defense ties that also extend into humanitarian cooperation.

“These efforts… help strengthen trust, deepen relationships and improve lives across communities,” Mr. Ewing said in remarks at the opening ceremonies, based on a transcript sent by the US Embassy in Manila. He added that the partnership spans national leadership down to local communities.

He said the exercises reflect a “whole-of-society approach” designed not only for military readiness but also for civic engagement and disaster response coordination.

Analysts said the expanded Balikatan drills signal the Philippines’ continued effort to strengthen deterrence capabilities amid regional maritime disputes and growing geopolitical competition.

‘POTENTIAL NEGOTIATIONS’
Josue Raphael J. Cortez, a lecturer at De La Salle-College of St. Benilde, said the Philippines is using the exercises to improve interoperability with allies while also broadening its defense partnerships.

He added that participation from countries such as Japan reflects shifting regional alignments and deeper coordination among states with shared concerns over maritime security.

“As we are harnessing our own manufacturing industries, including shipbuilding, these exercises also allow us to venture into potential negotiations from like-minded nations,” Mr. Cortez told BusinessWorld via Facebook Messenger.

Justin Keith A. Baquisal, a national security analyst at FACTS Asia, said Japan’s first-time participation is significant, signaling strategic continuity among US allies in the Indo-Pacific region.

He said these countries share increasingly aligned positions on regional security issues, especially in relation to China’s maritime activities.

“There’s a lot of strategic continuity going on here because the foreign policies of these countries, at least with respect to China, are more or less the same,” Mr. Baquisal said by telephone.

Chester B. Cabalza, founding president of the International Development and Security Cooperation, said the drills enhance the Philippines’ ability to engage in multinational operations and strengthen its defense posture.

“It also widens our armed forces’ capability to mount multinational military cooperation as we become a battlefield for cognitive and information warfare in the region,” he said via Messenger.

However, Mr. Cortez cautioned that the Philippines could face risks of exposure due to its deepening security cooperation with the US, particularly amid broader US tensions with other global powers such as Iran and its allies.

He noted that while such risks exist, they do not outweigh the strategic benefits of the alliance, especially in strengthening national defense capacity.

This year’s Balikatan exercises involve 3,000 more troops than last year’s iteration, which had about 14,000 participants, underscoring the growing scale and complexity of the drills.

Officials said 17 countries are observing the exercises, further highlighting international interest in the Philippines’ expanding defense cooperation network.

Beyond military implications, the exercises have drawn criticism from sectoral groups affected by temporary restrictions in coastal areas.

The Pambansang Lakas ng Kilusang Mamamalakaya ng Pilipinas (PAMALAKAYA) said about 4,840 registered fisherfolk in Subic, Zambales might be affected by an 11-day no-sail zone imposed to accommodate live-fire and maritime drills in Subic Bay.

The group said fishing activities in designated areas were restricted during the exercises, raising concerns over lost income opportunities for coastal communities.

PAMALAKAYA also questioned the allocation of resources for the drills, arguing that government funds used for military exercises could instead support subsidies for fuel and agricultural production. — with Vonn Andrei E. Villamiel and Reuters