Balikatan to showcase Philippine’s archipelagic defense

MANILA, Philippines —The Philippines’ upcoming joint annual Balikatan military exercises with the United States – this time also with France – will showcase the new archipelagic defense concept of the Marcos administration, according to the military.

“This Balikatan will be a showcase of our capabilities in performing our mandate in accordance with the comprehensive archipelagic defense concept unveiled recently by the Department of National Defense,” Balikatan executive agent Col. Michael Logico said yesterday.

Asked about the coming event’s possible repercussions on the country’s problem with Chinese bullying and intimidation in the West Philippine Sea, Logico said: “Well, that’s their problem, that’s not our problem.”

He said naval drills, as part of the exercise, would be held up to the edge of the country’s 200-nautical-mile exclusive economic zone (EEZ) where the Ayungin Shoal and other features being claimed by China are situated.

“We will go out of the 12 nautical miles of our territorial waters.  We will do our exercise beyond that, up to the edge of our exclusive economic zone, 200 nautical miles,” he said over dzBB.

“So that means that our exercises, our defense concepts have to go beyond 12 nautical miles in order for us to protect our national interest within our territory, within our territorial waters and also within the exclusive economic zone,” he said.

For the naval drills, Logico said the Armed Forces of the Philippines would be engaging primarily with the US and with “strong participation” of the Australian Defense Force and the French Navy.

He revealed that France would be sending a frigate to participate in the sea exercises. The Philippine Coast Guard and US Coast Guard will also be part of the drill.

Logico said at least 14 countries including Japan, South Korea, India, Canada, the United Kingdom, Thailand, Singapore, Vietnam, Indonesia, Brunei, Malaysia, Germany and New Zealand would be sending observers.

“Every country, big or small, has the absolute and inalienable right to defend itself,” he said, citing President Marcos’ order for the military to strengthen its external defense capabilities.

“So naturally, if you are tasked to defend