The recently concluded Balikatan joint drills have marked a shift in the Philippines’ defence strategy alongside Japan, with Tokyo offering the transfer of warships to its Southeast Asian ally, while a top Filipino official for the first time voiced “serious concern” over islands claimed by Beijing and Tokyo.
Philippine Defence Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jnr on Wednesday said Manila now considered the uninhabited Diaoyu Islands, which Japan calls the Senkaku Islands, a security flashpoint in the East China Sea.
During the closing ceremonies of the operations on Friday, Armed Forces Chief of Staff General Romeo Brawner Jnr also revealed that future war games would not be confined to waters within the South China Sea that Manila considered under its territory.
Brawner said planning for next year’s drills would be done by the “Squad”, an informal military alliance comprising American and Filipino forces, joined by Australia and Japan. Canberra signed a Status of Forces Agreement with Manila in 2012, while Tokyo sealed a Reciprocal Access Agreement last year. Both pacts enable troops to train together.
“This afternoon the four of us will be meeting as the Squad, so that we will discuss among ourselves how we will move forward in expanding the Balikatan exercise that will not just be focused or just located here in the Philippines, but we are going to expand the area of operations as well,” Brawner said on Friday.
Japanese Defence Minister Shinjiro Koizumi (centre) greets troopers beside his Philippine counterpart Gilberto Teodoro Jnr during the Balikatan drills in Paoay on Wednesday. Photo: Philippine Department of National Defence via AP
Teodoro and his visiting Japanese counterpart Shinjiro Koizumi had mentioned the Diaoyu Islands during a joint press conference on Tuesday following bilateral talks.
We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. By clicking “Accept”, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies.
This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience.
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously.
Cookie
Duration
Description
cookielawinfo-checbox-analytics
11 months
This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics".
cookielawinfo-checbox-functional
11 months
The cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional".
cookielawinfo-checbox-others
11 months
This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other.
cookielawinfo-checkbox-necessary
11 months
This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-performance
11 months
This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance".
viewed_cookie_policy
11 months
The cookie is set by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin and is used to store whether or not user has consented to the use of cookies. It does not store any personal data.
Functional cookies help to perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collect feedbacks, and other third-party features.
Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors.
Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc.
Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads.
