On The Radar: Balikatan 2024 - Key Changes and Why China is Alarmed

The Philippines and the United States have launched their largest joint military exercises to date under the 2024 Balikatan, a Filipino word meaning, "shoulder-to-shoulder." Running from April to May, this year's drills involve nearly 17,000 troops from both nations. 

The Balikatan exercise between the two allies has been an annual practice, but what is different this year? And why is China upset about it?

This year, the joint military drills have introduced many firsts.

For the first time, the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) is actively participating in the drills, deploying six vessels that previously only patrolled the perimeter. This change comes after repeated confrontations with Chinese vessels at the Second Thomas Shoal. 

Adding to the novelty, France has joined the exercises, deploying a frigate within Manila’s Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ), marking its first involvement since the inception of these drills in 1991.

Another first is the participation of 14 nations as observers for Balikatan 2024, including New Zealand, India, Great Britain, Japan, Canada, South Korea, Vietnam, Singapore, Thailand, France, Germany, Indonesia, Malaysia, and Brunei. 

Ahead of the Balikatan, the Philippines had already conducted naval and air drills with Japan, Australia, and the US. 

While New Zealand, during Prime Minister Christopher Luxon's visit to Manila, expressed NZ's willingness to sign a defence cooperation pact related to the Mutual Logistics Supporting Arrangement and a Status of Visiting Forces Agreement later this year with Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. 

PM Christopher Luxon and Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr during a bilat in Manila. Photo: c/o NZ Embassy in Manila.

In addition, the US, Japan, and the Philippines convened an unprecedented trilateral summit in Washington before the drills began, during which US President Joe Biden openly warned Beijing against employing force against its regional allies.

The outward focus of the exercises in this year's Balikatan is also a significant change. Traditionally, the Philippine armed forces have been trained to protect their citizens from internal conflicts caused by local terrorism and insurgencies. But this time, the drills aim to enhance the combat skills of Filipinos to fight and defend their territory from possible foreign enemy attacks, allowing them to "showcase the comprehensive archipelagic defence concept."

"All available assets of the Philippine Army will be used. So, we can see [our] interoperability with all major services [with partnering nations]," said Philippine Army spokesperson Col. Louie Dema-ala to the media, underscoring the scale and importance of the drills, which focus on a full range of operations, including island defence, cyberwarfare, humanitarian assistance, and disaster relief operations. 

For the first time, the Pentagon has deployed the "Typhon" ground-based missile system, which has a range of up to 1,600 kilometers, for the Balikatan exercises. The allies will also conduct live-fire drills involving the High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS), which has proved decisive in the Ukraine conflict against Russia.

For its part, the Philippines will employ its new, Korean-built "C-star" ship-based missile system for the first time, capable of hitting targets as far as 140 kilometers away. 

The most controversial change of all is the exercise's location. It will be conducted outside the Philippines' 12-nautical-mile territorial waters, in the South China Sea, as well as in the Philippines' northern shores and Taiwan's southern shores. 

According to policy and security expert, Prof. Richard Javad Heydarian, writing for the Lowy Institute, this move is seen as "directly challenging China's expansive claims across the South China Sea. And some planned drills clearly have threats from the Asian powerhouse in mind."

US and PH forces during the Information Warfighting Exercise. Photo: c/o U.S. Embassy in the Philippines.

Another highlight of this year's Balikatan is the sinking of a decommissioned made-in China navy tanker - the BRP Lake Caliraya. Although it may appear as a palpable message to deter Beijing, this action was "not intentional," according to Army. Col. Michael Logico, spokesperson for Balikatan 2024. 

China has responded sternly to these drills. The Chinese foreign ministry warned the Philippines to stop bringing in external countries "to show off their force in the South China Sea and provoke confrontation," as it will only "aggravate tensions and undermine regional stability."

"The Philippines has been pursuing selfish gains at the expense of the consensus reached by countries in the region," spokesman Wang Wenbin told reporters in Beijing. "This is the main reason why the situation in the South China Sea has escalated and become more complicated."

In response to Balikatan, Beijing also deployed Chinese navy ships in the South China Sea, close to 7 to 8 nautical miles away from the Philippines and US exercises. Beijing's presence was felt, but no communication challenges occurred. 

Banner: c/o PNP

-Asia Media Centre