MANILA, Philippines \u2014 Thousands of allied American and Filipino forces opened annual combat drills Monday that include repelling an island attack to simulate the defense of the Philippine archipelago and seas in a \u201cfull-scale battle scenario\u201d that has antagonized China.<\/p>\n
The annual Balikatan<\/a> military exercises between the longtime treaty allies are scheduled from April 21 to May 9 with about 9,000 American and 5,000 Filipino military personnel. Fighter jets, warships and an array of weaponry including a U.S. Marine anti-ship missile system will be involved, U.S. and Philippine military officials said.<\/p>\n China has steadfastly opposed such war drills in or near the disputed South China Sea<\/a> and in northern Philippine provinces close to Taiwan, especially if they involve U.S. and allied forces that Beijing says aim to contain it and, consequently, threaten regional stability and peace.<\/p>\n \u201cWe are ready,\u201d U.S. Marine Corps Lt. Gen. James Glynn told a news conference when asked if U.S. and Philippine forces have built up the capability to address any major act of aggression in the Taiwan Strait<\/a> or the South China Sea after years of joint combat exercises.<\/p>\n \u201cOur combined strength \u2026 possesses a degree of lethality for a force that possesses an indomitable warrior ethos and spirit,\u201d Glynn said in a speech in the opening ceremony of the annual combat-readiness exercises. \u201cIt\u2019s all dedicated to one purpose, to ensure the defense of the Philippines and to maintain a free and open Indo-Pacific.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAll of us want to resolve any regional conflict peacefully, but should deterrence fail, we need to be prepared,\u201d said Glynn, who previously helped lead special operations forces against the Islamic State group and served in Fallujah, Iraq.<\/p>\n Philippine Army Maj. Gen. Francisco Lorenzo said the exercises during Balikatan, meaning \u201cshoulder to shoulder\u201d in Tagalog, are not aimed at any particular country.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s joint training with the U.S. forces to increase our capability in securing our territory and, of course, it will increase our capabilities and our preparedness and responsiveness to any eventuality,\u201d Lorenzo said.<\/p>\n The exercises include a mock allied counter-assault against an enemy attack on an island, the use of a barrage of artillery and missile fire to sink a mock enemy ship, joint navy sails in or near the disputed South China Sea, and aerial combat surveillance, according to the Philippine military.<\/p>\n A Philippine military statement described this year\u2019s large-scale combat exercises as \u201ca full-scale battle scenario meticulously designed to rigorously test and enhance the combined capabilities of both nations\u2019 armed forces under the most realistic and challenging conditions.\u201d<\/p>\n Aside from U.S. and Philippine military personnel, Australia plans deploy about 260 participants, an Australian military officer said. Several countries, including Japan, intend to send military observers.<\/p>\n