Philippines and United States of America this Tuesday started some gigantic military maneuvers which will seal their renewed bilateral ties and will inevitably disturb Chinese. Beijing had already protested these exercises while their echo was still heard in the Formosa Strait. Addiction to war games in the region confirms that the region is the most erogenous zone on the planet, the scene of military alliances and old wounds still waiting to be cauterized.
Moreover 17,000 soldiers (12,000 Americans, 5,000 Filipinos and one hundred Australians) will participate in sea, land and air maneuvers over the next two and a half weeks. will use for the first time royal gunner among other missions, they will sink a rusty 60-metre-long Philippine ship. They were hailed by the press as the largest Manila-Washington joint exercise in history.
known maneuvers your fisherman (“shoulder to shoulder in the vernacular”) totals almost thirty years. At first it was rehearsal anti-terrorists to prevent attacks by al-Qaeda-linked Islamist groups in the south of the archipelago. Its current aim, never officially announced, is to rein in the Chinese explosion in the region. The US military in charge, General Eric Austin, justified them with an ethereal formula: “We want to be prepared to respond together to the real challenges of the world.” “We are not provoking anyone with our simple exercises,” said the Philippine military spokesman candidly. They will include amphibious landings, air operations, cyber defense, urban maneuvers, counter-terrorism and natural disaster recovery.
Beijing protest
Beijing issued a preventive protest. “I hope they don’t interfere” South China Sea disputes and less harm to China’s territorial sovereignty, maritime rights and interests, and security.”
Beijing and Washington spent decades courting Manila. The Philippines has always been a loyal ally of the United States. Rodrigo Duterte came to power. He realized that he would need investment from China to modernize the country and threw himself into China’s arms. He never visited Washington and mentioned his mother several times. barack obama with some grace. His successor, Bongbong Marcos, pledged equality during the election campaign so as not to turn his country into a vulgar pawn, but the first months reveal a resounding trend against the United States. China protested last month against the agreement that allowed Washington to open. four new military bases in the country. From Beijing, the promised equality is not perceived. The president, son of the brutal dictator, is scheduled to witness the maneuvers, and the US and Philippine foreign ministers will soon meet in Washington for the first time in seven years.
Washington has shifted its main military presence to the region since Obama ordered a “return to the Pacific” after he bled to death in the Middle East. He added to his troops stationed in South Korea or Japan for decades, the policy of military alliances like the Aukus or Quad, which harassed China in its backyard. However, the Philippines regional strategy Due to its proximity to the South China Sea and Taiwan, which are the main sources of tension, it can act as a launch platform in combat. The hypothesis was rejected by Marcos, who promised not to join his country’s “aggression movements”, perhaps to calm Beijing.