US general: War games mean ‘don’t mess with us’

WELCOME ABOARD Crewmen of the BRP Ramon Alcaraz secure a helicopter at the start of this year’s ‘Balikatan’ exercises. —PHOTO FROM ARMED FORCES OF THE PHILIPPINES

The annual war games between the Philippines and the United States ended on Friday, sending a strong message to disruptors of peace in the region: “Don’t mess with us.”

In his speech during the closing ceremony at Camp Aguinaldo in Quezon City, US Marine Lt. Gen. Michael Cederholm said the Philippines and its allies are “building readiness for today and resilience for tomorrow” through the joint military exercises.

This year’s “Balikatan” war games, the biggest military exercise between the Philippines and the United States, involved about 17,000 troops from both countries.

“Together with the Armed Forces of the Philippines, we put the D in deterrence, defense and don’t mess with us,” Cederholm said.

The Balikatan, which is now on its 40th iteration, is “rooted in shared values and beliefs, shaped by history, and vital to the future of a prosperous and secure Indo-Pacific” region, according to Cederholm.

“This year, we reaffirmed a critical truth. Our alliances and partnerships are a strategic advantage in any scenario, be it conflict, crisis or humanitarian response,” he said.

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For his part, Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. said Manila’s joint military exercises with its allies help “build strong fences” to “deter any malign actor from interfering with what international law provides each and every one of us.”

He cited that “strong fences make for good neighbors,” saying that the Philippines needs to be resilient due to forces “whose perceptions of what good faith may differ from ours.”

When faced with challenges from forces of different persuasions who do not understand the rule of law, who do not understand good faith and whose perceptions of what good faith are may differ from ours, the best way to make ourselves more resilient is to build strong fences,” he said.

Teodoro also said it was “obvious,” which country does not adhere to the rule of law: “It is only China.”

Beijing has warned Manila that its defense and security cooperation with other countries should not threaten regional peace or exacerbate regional tensions, but it continues to insist on its expansive claims in the strategic waterway.