During the bilateral war games between the United States and the Philippines, an aerial interloper was detected in the aerial territory of San Antonio town. The unidentified intruder delayed the operation where the two countries practiced sinking a mock target, a decommissioned Philippine Navy corvette named BRP Pangasinan, 235 kilometers away from Scarborough Shoal.
Colonel Michael Logico, spokesperson of Balikatan 2023, confirmed that they have yet to verify the identity of the intruder detected by radar. When asked if the interloper came from China, Logico said, “I cannot verify that right now. It will be up to the sensors to verify that.”
The drills were immediately halted upon detecting the aerial intruder for safety reasons. “Safety is the primary consideration in conducting the exercise. Any interloper and intrusion in the exercise that will endanger the lives of people—whether intentional or accidental—are general considerations,” Logico said.
He also added that “As a general SOP (standard operating procedure), we lift fires whether there is an interloper in our territory.” The Balikatan event saw 1,400 Marines, soldiers, and other servicemen from both nations join forces to showcase their skills in detecting, identifying, and targeting a ship using various ground and aerial weapon systems.
This year’s Balikatan, which began on April 21 and will end on 28, is the biggest ever so far, with 17,600 troops from both countries joining the event. Balikatan is a Tagalog term that means “shoulder-to-shoulder” or “sharing the load together.”
The event was designed to improve the interoperability and defense capability of both countries. It focused on maritime security, counter-terrorism, and humanitarian assistance and disaster response. This year, the exercise also featured the conduct of joint aviation exercises, which was a significant milestone in the bilateral defense relationship between the United States and the Philippines.
The joint aviation exercises allowed Philippine pilots to fly alongside their American counterparts and provided them with an opportunity to train on various aircraft types, including the US-made F-35B Lightning II fighter jet. The Philippine military sees the exercise as an excellent opportunity to enhance its capabilities in operating advanced military hardware and to learn from the US military’s experience and expertise.
The Balikatan exercise is one of the essential events in the US-Philippine defense relationship. It has been held annually since 1991 and has contributed significantly to improving the interoperability and defense capability of both countries. With the current security situation in the region, the exercise has become more important than ever, and both countries are committed to ensuring its success.
