AN American military official yesterday said China should not be concerned over the deployment of US missile systems to the Philippines if it does not “intend to breach” Philippine territory.
Lt. Gen. James Glynn, commander of the US Marine Forces Pacific, issued the statement at a press conference after opening ceremonies for this year’s “Balikatan” exercise, at Camp Aguinaldo in Quezon City.
Glynn noted Article II of the Mutual Defense Treaty (MDT) signed by US and Philippines in 1951, saying “each party, either separately or jointly, through mutual aid, may acquire, develop and maintain their capacity to resist armed attack.”
The MDT, in Article IV, also says, “Each party recognizes that an armed attack in the Pacific area on either of the parties would be dangerous to its own peace and safety and declares that it would act to meet the common dangers in accordance with its constitutional processes.”
“And so, if you don’t intend to breach the territorial integrity of the Philippines, then you shouldn’t have a concern about weapon systems that are intended to ensure the defense of the Philippines,” said Glynn.
The Americans will be using the medium-range capability or Typhon missile system and the NMESIS anti-ship missile system for the Balikatan exercise which will run until May 9.
China has been opposing the deployment of the Typhon since its arrival in the Philippines in April last year due to what it said is the threat it poses to regional security.
The NMESIS arrived in the Philippines on Monday last week, mainly for the Balikatan exercise. The Philippine military said the platform will be back in the US after the Balikatan.
Maj. Gen. Francisco Lorenzo, Balikatan director for the Philippine side, said the Philippines and the US are “united in safeguarding our regional security and stability.”
“Balikatan is being conducted to ensure the freedom of navigation and adherence to international law and ensuring an open and secure sea lanes. They are here to ensure that those objectives are attained, helping each other attain that objective for global peace and stability in the region,” he added.
This year’s exercise will involve some 14,000 troops on both sides — 9,000 on the US side and 5,000 on the Philippine side.
Australia will be an active participant in the Balikatan, bringing in some 200 troops.
Seventeen other countries will be observers, including Japan. However, Japan will take part in a joint sail with the US and the Philippines inside the Philippines’ 200-nautical mile exclusive economic zone during the duration of the Balikatan.
One of the training exercises under Balikatan will be a maritime strike in Zambales on May 5. In this exercise, US and Philippine assets, including aircraft and warships, will be fire their weapons to sink a decommissioned Philippine Navy ship, BRP Miguel Malvar.
Last year, the two sides sank BRP Lake Caliraya, also a decommissioned Navy ship, in a similar maritime strike under Balikatan in Ilocos Norte.
‘FULL BATTLE TEST’
Participants in this year’s Balikatan exercise will do a “full battle test” which Glynn said will take into consideration “all the security challenges that we face, beginning in the South China.”
AFP chief Gen. Romeo Brawner Jr, in a speech at the opening rites, said the Balikatan exercise is a “a powerful manifestation of our (US and Philippines) enduring alliance and shared commitment to regional peace, stability and mutual defense.”
Brawner said there will be “complex joint endeavors” in this year’s Balikatan, including missile defense, live fires, and maritime strike capabilities.
“These initiatives are not solely about demonstrating power. They epitomize partnership in action, dedicated to safeguarding people, preserving peace and preparing for future challenges,” he said.
“Together with our allies, we reaffirm our commitment to the Mutual Defense Treaty, a pillar of our bilateral relations and a guardian of peace in our region,” he added.
Lorenzo said the Balikatan exercise underscores the determination of the US and the Philippines to “enhance our collective ability to defend our respective national interests and contribute to global peace.”
“This year, we will focus on a comprehensive approach that encompasses full battle testing, the continued operationalization of the archipelagic defense concept and the refinement of our territorial defense strategies,” he said.
TAIWAN CONFLICT
The exercises come as regional tensions simmer in Asia over China’s activities in the South China Sea and around Taiwan, which neighbors the Philippines.
Lorenzo said the drills were not directed at any country, but could act as deterrent against conflict.
“The Balikatan exercise may probably help deter the conflict in Taiwan. But for our concern, it is only for deterrence of any possible coercion or invasion to our country,” said Lorenzo, commander of the AFP Education, Training and Doctrine Command.
Tensions between China and the Philippines have escalated the past two years over run-ins between their coast guards in the South China Sea, which Beijing claims sovereignty over almost in its entirety.
Lorenzo said the Philippines “has renounced war as a means of its national policy.”
“So if ever there will be conflict in Taiwan, definitely we will not participate and we will still continue on defending our territory and maintaining its integrity,” he said.
“So whenever, wherever we conduct exercises, we focus on defense not offense,” he added.
Lorenzo was responding to a question about the readiness of the US and the Philippines to respond in case of a major act of aggression in the Taiwan Strait and in the South China Sea.
Lorenzo said a Taiwan invasion is not part of the exercise scenario under this year’s Balikatan.
“Balikatan is not against any nation, but it is training, joint training with the US forces to increase our capability in securing our territory … It will increase our capabilities and our preparedness and responsiveness to any eventuality,” he said.
Meanwhile, the Philippine Navy dismissed a report from Chinese media that one of its warships was driven away by a Chinese Navy ship at Scarborough Shoal, which the Chinese calls as Huangyan Dao, on Monday.
The Chinese People’s Liberation Army’s Southern Theater Command said BRP Apolinario Mabini intruded into its territorial waters.
“These are all part of shaping or malign info operations more likely for their internal audience,” said Rear Adm. Roy Vincent Trinidad, the Philippine Navy’s spokesman for the West Philippine Sea.
“Only the Philippine Navy and other Philippine flagged law enforcement ships have the authority and legal bases to challenge any ship within our maritime zones,” added Trinidad.
