Bloomberg: US, Philippines launch record drills to counter China’s influence

The United States and the Philippines on April 20 opened their largest-ever joint military exercises, underscoring Washington’s continued focus on maintaining a strong presence in the Indo-Pacific region amid global security challenges.

The annual “Balikatan” drills, involving the United States Armed Forces and the Armed Forces of the Philippines, come as the United States seeks to counter China’s growing influence in the region, even as attention is partly drawn to conflicts in the Middle East, Bloomberg reports. 

This year’s exercises will involve a record number of personnel, with more than 17,000 troops participating in maritime operations and live-fire drills. Several allied nations are also taking part, including Japan, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and France.

Officials say the exercises are designed to enhance interoperability and readiness among participating forces, as well as to reinforce regional security cooperation.

By Sabina Mammadli