Saadet Gokce
20 April 2026•Update: 20 April 2026
- China says 'last thing the region needs is division and confrontation as a result of the introduction of external forces,' regarding military exercise
The US and the Philippines on Monday kicked off their largest-ever joint military exercises.
The 41st edition of the Balikatan, running until May 8, marks the most expansive iteration in its history, according to the Armed Forces of the Philippines.
Approximately 17,000 personnel from the Philippines, the US, Australia, Japan, Canada, France, and New Zealand are participating in the drills, while an additional 13 nations are taking part as observers under the International Observers Program.
Philippine Army chief Gen. Romeo Brawner Jr. said during the opening ceremony that "to our allies and partners, your presence here today sends a clear and unmistakable message that security is shared and that partnership remains our strongest advantage."
For the first time, Japanese troops are also attending as active participants, deploying around 1,400 personnel.
The country has also deployed three ships and two aircraft, as the Japan Self-Defense Forces plan to test-fire a Type-88 guided missile during the war game, Kyodo News reported.
During the exercise, the Indian-made BrahMos cruise missile system will also be subjected to simulation firing during the maritime strike phase, according to the Philippine News Agency.
The Philippines was the first customer of the BrahMos missiles with a purchase of nearly $375 million in 2022. The first batteries were delivered in April 2024.
China, on the other hand, said that "what the Asia-Pacific needs most is peace and tranquility, and the last thing the region needs is division and confrontation as a result of the introduction of external forces."
"No military and security cooperation should be conducted at the expense of mutual understanding and trust as well as peace and stability in the region," Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun said during a news conference in Beijing.
The Philippines is the US' oldest military ally in the Asia-Pacific region, where American forces have access to Philippine military bases under a defense treaty.
