Why the largest-ever US-Philippine drill, and Japan’s role in it, is making China uneasy

The annual Balikatan military exercise, a joint US-Philippine endeavor, recently concluded its largest iteration yet, involving 17,000 personnel from seven countries: the Philippines, US, Canada, France, Japan, Australia, and New Zealand. Conducted from April 20 to May 8 along the Philippines' western coastline, the drills extended from the South China Sea to an island near Taiwan. Chinese experts have expressed concern, warning that the expanded scale and complexity of the exercise will increase regional instability amidst heightened Indo-Pacific tensions. This year's drill marked record highs in participation and training complexity.

Critics argue that increased US-Philippine military cooperation, exemplified by the annual Balikatan exercises, makes the Philippines a potential target for US adversaries. These large-scale joint drills, involving thousands of soldiers from multiple nations, are seen by some as a provocation to China and risk drawing the Philippines into wider conflicts. Activists and religious leaders express concern over the normalization of military presence and the potential for disruption to local communities and livelihoods. While Philippine and US military officials state the exercises are defensive and not aimed at any specific country, critics maintain that aligning with Washington positions the Philippines as a forward base, increasing its vulnerability.