A Patriot air missile system is fired during a live fire exercise in the annual joint military exercises between U.S. and Philippine troops called 鈥淏alikatan鈥� or shoulder-to-shoulder, at a naval base in San Antonio, Zambales province, Philippines, April 25, 2023. REUTERS/Eloisa Lopez TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY
SAN ANTONIO,听笔丑颈濒颈辫辫颈苍别s 鈥� United States and听笔丑颈濒颈辫辫颈苍别聽armed听蹿辞谤肠别蝉听unleashed a volley of missiles on a听尘辞肠办听别苍别尘测听飞补谤蝉丑颈辫听in the South China Sea on Wednesday, April 26, in a show of military power and a strengthening alliance at a time of rising regional tension.
笔丑颈濒颈辫辫颈苍别听President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. watched from a four-story tower as a high mobility artillery rocket system (HIMARS) fired rockets at a decommissioned navy corvette in the waters just a few miles off Zambales province.
It was the first time the annual听鲍.厂.鈥�Philippines 鈥淏alikatan鈥� exercises featured live-fire drills at sea, at a location just a few ho耻谤蝉听by boat from one of the world鈥檚 most contested maritime features, the Scarborough Shoal, which China has occupied for more than a decade.
Military from both countries have said the exercises across the听笔丑颈濒颈辫辫颈苍别s, which include sites facing Taiwan, were not targeted at any country.
READ: PH, US hold big 鈥楤alikatan鈥� drills in Cagayan
This year鈥檚听飞补谤听驳补尘别蝉听end on Friday and with 17,000 troops are the听产颈驳驳别蝉迟听edition听测别迟, in a sign of rekindled ties between the defense treaty partners after a period of strain under the previous, anti-鲍.厂.听president, Rodrigo Duterte.
鈥淭he alliance is alive,鈥� said Colonel Michael Logico, a听笔丑颈濒颈辫辫颈苍别聽spokesperson for Balikatan.
Marcos, who was joined by his defense and armed听蹿辞谤肠别蝉听chiefs, boarded and inspected a HIMARS cab displayed at the San Antonio naval base before observing the exercise through binoculars and on a TV screen.
READ: US firepower on display as 鈥楤alikatan鈥� nears close
He smiled the moment the first missile was fired, leaving a trail of smoke in the sky, part of a coordinated coastal, inland artillery bombardment, and airstrike that obliterated the听尘辞肠办听别苍别尘测听target.
鈥淭he President came away with a deeper appreciation for joint and combined operations,鈥� spokesperson Logico added.
A high mobility artillery rocket system (HIMARS) is fired during a live fire exercise in the annual joint military exercises between U.S. and Philippine troops called 鈥淏alikatan鈥� or shoulder-to-shoulder, held in San Antonio, Zambales province, Philippines, April 26, 2023. REUTERS/Eloisa Lopez
Marcos is due to meet听鲍.厂.聽counterpart Joe Biden in Washington next week and plans to disc耻蝉蝉听a 1951 Mutual Defense Treaty that he feels must evolve in the face of 鈥渉eating up tensions.鈥�
China has criticized the military exercises, which come against the backdrop of what the听笔丑颈濒颈辫辫颈苍别s calls 鈥渁ggressive鈥� Chinese actions in the South China Sea.
READ: China: Keep 鈥楤alikatan鈥� drills off our 鈥榠nterests鈥� in SCS
Beijing has said the听鲍.厂.鈥�Philippines alliance must not interfere in sea disputes or harm China鈥檚 territorial sovereignty and security interests. The听笔丑颈濒颈辫辫颈苍别s and the United States say their activities are for defense purposes only.
鈥淭here鈥檚 nothing provocative about training to defend from a nation鈥檚 sovereign territory,鈥� Major General Joseph Ryan, commanding general of the听鲍.厂听Army鈥檚 25th Infantry Division, told reporters.
鈥淚t is every sovereign nation鈥檚 right to defend their space.鈥�
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