Focus on external defense

THE Philippines is preparing the 39th edition of its annual ‘Balikatan’ exercises, with organizers considering parts of Northern Luzon, including Mavulis island in far north Batanes province.

Mavulis, only 98 kms from the southern tip of Taiwan, has a newly constructed military and fishermen shelter, a water desalination plant, a helipad, lighthouse and a flagpole atop the hill, part of a scenery known for its green waters, terrain and clean environment.

This year’s three-week iteration of the Balikatan joint military exercises with the United States has been projected to be bigger than ever before and could include drills staged in areas of Batanes close to Taiwan.

We have our hand for the military decision to go north which authorities have considered since security officials are now externally oriented, which means there is now a shift of focus from being internally exposed.

Last year, the 38th edition had the Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division and the Australian Defense Force during the bilateral exercise between the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the US military.

It included a Sink Exercise as part of the littoral live fire exercise in Zambales, where the former BRP Pangasinan, a decommissioned Malvar-class corvette, was used as a target ship.

It drew 17,600 troops from the Philippines, the United States, and Australia, the number of participants setting a record for the annual joint drills, which began in the 1990s.

While there is no final decision yet on the exact areas where ‘Balikatan’ would be held, Mavuli is being considered as part of the venue this summer, according to Philippine Navy spokesperson for the West Philippine Sea, Commodore Roy Vincent Trinidad said.

National Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. earlier instructed the Armed Forces of the Philippines to expand its presence in Batanes, 658 kms from Manila which can be reached after an 80-minute flight from the capital.

With this development, Trinidad said “We could now focus on the greater task of defense and security with an outward) orientation.”

Philippine military authorities have echoed the DND’s position that China, which has thus far not commented on the Batanes exercise, has no business with how the Philippines would plan its defense and security posture, saying this move is “all part and parcel of securing what is ours.”

This is in response to Beijing’s warning for Manila “not to play with fire” over the issue of Taiwan, where the Philippines has an economic and cultural offce.

“China’s pronouncements and acts are the main reasons for its low credibility with the Filipino people. China should refrain from engaging in provocative rhetoric and activities if it truly wants to earn the widespread trust and respect that it is trying so hard to gain but has, so far, been unable to,” the DND had said.

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