Balikatan 2016 kicks off amid heightened sea row

ABOUT 9,000 combined American and Filipino troops started the annual bilateral exercises on Monday aimed not only for territorial defense amid sea disputes but also to address other capabilities.

“It’s not focused on a particular incident but rather capacitating our armed forces to deal with a whole lot of exigencies,” said Vice Admiral Alexander Lopez, Western Command chief and exercise director for the Philippine side of the Balikatan 2016, in a press briefing at Camp Aguinaldo on Monday.

The annual drills from April 4 to 15 at various military camps take place amid China’s aggressive actions in the South China Sea, but officials have repeatedly said the exercises have nothing to do with the sea dispute.

“We’re trying to come up with a capability, or capacitate our troops so that we can really move forward…The Philippines is the least capable armed forces in the region and the US being a big brother is a big help to it,” Lopez said.

As in recent previous years, the Balikatan 2016 will involve “planning and execution of territorial defense operations.”

Lt. Gen. John Toolan, exercise director for the United States, said the 2016 Balikatan is an opportunity for them to review their bilateral plan in case something would occur.

“There is a bilateral defense planning that we have together, and so this exercise provides us an opportunity to validate and refine that bilateral plan…what are the potential situations that could occur, what is it gonna be, what would be our likely response and I think it’s prudent, just prudent planning and while waiting for International Tribunal of the Law of the Sea decision to come out. We’re basically using ITLOS in the system that’s out there to help make a decision,” he said, without referring to the dispute with China.

In 2013, the Philippines sought an international court to invalidate China’s massive claims in the disputed waters and a decision is expected this mid-year.

China has aggressively built artificial islands in seven reefs in the disputed waterway, causing tensions with its neighboring countries including the Philippines.

Palawan, the island province nearest to the Philippine claims in the South China Sea (West Philippine Sea), will host several activities for the Balikatan.

Lopez said that aside from engineering civic action projects, there will be a simulated retaking of an oil and gas platform in Palawan “wherein we’re really have to come up with that procedure should something happen to our crown jewel.”

Asked if the potential crisis includes the South China Sea dispute, Toolan said: “It does. Absolutely.”

Next week, US Defense Secretary Ash Carter will personally observe the exercises. This is the first time that a US defense secretary will witness the joint drills.

It will also be the first time that the High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS), a long-range multiple rocket system will be used.

Territorial defense, the next alligator

A country in order to prosper must have a good defense, said Toolan, and this is the Philippines must address.

“We have worked together in the counter terror business of the past 15 tears really and it’s been a success story. The Philippine armed forces is now basically in control and doing a good job. Territorial defense is the next alligator we have to rush. I think that we what we find is if you have good defense, if you have got good, sound security, then can prosper economically,” he said.

Japan and Australia, which coincidentally oppose China’s aggressive actions in the disputed seas, will participate in the Balikatan exercises as observers

“The active participation of the Australian Defense Forces in this year’s Balikatan as well as the presence of observers of the Japanese Self-Defense forces have sent a clear message across the seas that our partnerships remain undaunted, united and strong,” Lopez said.

Other countries that will participate as observers are Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, India, South Korea, and Timor-Leste.

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