PH, US forces mock beach assault by ‘threat force’

TEST-FIRING DRONE KILLER The Marine Air Defense Integrated System (Madis) is deployed at the “Balikatan” exercises in San Antonio, Zambales, on Sunday. —Grig C. Montegrande

MANILA, Philippines — Filipino and American troops thwarted an attack by a “threat force” from waters in Aparri, Cagayan, facing Taiwan, as the two military allies staged live fire drills over the weekend against the backdrop of regional tensions with China.

Powerful explosions rocked a sleepy village of Dodan as allied forces displayed military might in the ongoing “Balikatan” exercises, during which the joint troops trained to carry out an amphibious assault as reporters looked on.

The counter-landing live-fire exercise featured Sabrah battle tanks, light armored vehicles, ATMOS 155mm self-propelled howitzers, and additional firepower from 105mm howitzers of the Philippine Army and the Philippine Marine Corps.

American forces unleashed overwhelming air and ground support using AH-64 Apache attack helicopters, F-16 aircraft, and a P-8A Poseidon aircraft for maritime surveillance and reconnaissance.

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“The enemy that we are fighting against here is an amphibious force coming from surface ships, deploying an amphibious force whose intent is to establish a foothold on the beaches with the intent to move inland. Once that mission has been accomplished, a counter-landing is intended to stop them at the deep area and then continue to engage them as they are moving closer.”

Balikatan spokesperson and assistant director Brig. Gen. Michael Logico told reporters.

The drills were tied to “a greater scenario at the operational and strategic level” that was being simulated at the military’s main headquarters at Camp Aguinaldo, he said.

A similar drill was earlier held in Palawan facing the West Philippine Sea, Manila’s exclusive economic zone in the South China Sea, featuring Filipino, US, and Australian forces.

Simulated attack

The three-week Balikatan, the biggest military exercises between the Philippines and the United States involving about 17,000 troops, will run until May 9. This year’s exercises simulated mock invasions on enemy-occupied islands in areas facing Taiwan and the South China Sea as part of a “rehearsal” of a defense plan that has been previously drawn up by the Philippines with the United States.

Beijing in recent years has stepped up its aggressiveness in the South China Sea, which it claims almost entirely, and around Taiwan, which it has not ruled out taking by force.

“China is free to think whatever it wants, but we are exercising our rehearsal for a ground defense. Nothing more has to be interpreted from the exercise that we just conducted,” Logico said.