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WORLD NEWS Wednesday 12 april 2023

U.S., Philippines hold largest war drills near disputed waters

By JIM GOMEZ would expect in an actual
Associated Press threat, which is an intrusion
MANILA, Philippines (AP) — coming from an adversary
American and Filipino forc- by sea,” Logico told report-
es on Tuesday launched ers. “We are demonstrat-
their largest combat ex- ing that we are combat
ercises in decades in the ready.” Asked if Marcos
Philippines and its waters raised any concern that
across the disputed South Beijing may be antago-
China Sea and the Taiwan nized by the rocket-firing
Strait, where Washington near the busy waterway
has repeatedly warned that China considers its
China over its increasingly territory, Logico said that
aggressive actions. did not come up when he
The annual drills by the long- briefed the president about
time treaty allies called Ba- the event. Marcos wants to
likatan Tagalog for “shoul- witness the live-fire drill, he
der-to-shoulder” will run said. In western Palawan
up to April 28 and involve province, which faces the
more than 17,600 military South China Sea, the ex-
personnel. It will be the lat- ercises will involve retaking
est display of American fire- an island captured by en-
power in Asia, as the Biden U.S. Marine Corps MGEN Eric Austin, U.S. Exercise Director Representative, right, and Philippine emy forces, Logico said.
Army MGEN Marvin Licudine, second left, Philippine Exercise Director, unfurl the joint military
administration strengthens exercise flag called “Balikatan,” a Tagalog word for “shoulder-to-shoulder,” during opening Philippine military officials
an arc of alliances to bet- ceremonies at Camp Aguinaldo military headquarters Tuesday, April 11, 2023, in Quezon City, said the maneuvers were
ter counter China, includ- Philippines. aimed at bolstering the
ing in a possible confronta- Associated Press country’s coastal defense
tion over Taiwan, an island of American forces to stay Filipino forces and 111 Aus- time, U.S. and Filipino forces and disaster-response ca-
democracy that Beijing in additional Philippine mili- tralian counterparts are will sink a target ship in the pabilities and were not
claims as its own. tary camps under a 2014 taking part in the exercises, Philippine territorial waters aimed at any country.
That dovetails with efforts defense pact. the largest since Balikatan off the western province Such field scenarios will
by the Philippines under “The relationships that we started three decades ago. of Zambales on April 26, in “test the allies’ capa-
President Ferdinand Mar- have, that we build into The drills will showcase U.S. a coordinated inland and bilities in combined arms
cos Jr. to defend its terri- these exercises, will make warships, fighter jets as well coastal artillery bombard- live-fire, information and
torial interests in the South us faster to respond to con- as Patriot missiles, HIMARS ment and airstrike, Col. Mi- intelligence sharing, com-
China Sea, which China flict, crisis, humanitarian as- rocket launchers and anti- chael Logico, a Philippine munications between ma-
claims virtually in its entire- sistance and disaster relief,” tank Javelins, according to spokesman for Balikatan, neuver units, logistics oper-
ty, by boosting joint military U.S. Marine Maj. Gen. Eric U.S. and Philippine military told reporters. ations, amphibious opera-
exercises with the U.S. and Austin said. About 12,200 officials. In a live-fire drill the “We have to fire at a target tions,” the U.S. Embassy in
allowing rotating batches U.S military personnel, 5,400 allies will stage for the first that is closer to what we Manila said.q

Polish leader heads to U.S. to further strengthen defense ties

WARSAW, Poland (AP) eration of the two nations. scheduled to have meet- Poland is also a major donor been so strong.”
— Poland’s Prime Minis- Morawiecki is due to meet ings with the representa- of aid to Ukraine, and has He said his talks with the U.S.
ter Mateusz Morawiecki with Vice President Ka- tives of American defense been ordering fighter jets, defense industry will also in-
flew Tuesday to the United mala Harris on Tuesday at companies during his tanks and other modern clude talks on financing the
States for meetings aimed the White House for talks three-day visit. military equipment, mostly billions of dollars of current
at strengthening the eco- including on further sup- “I am flying to the United from U.S. and South Korean and planned purchases.
nomic and defense coop- port for Ukraine. He is also States to strengthen the al- producers, to strengthen Poland is buying U.S. F-35
liance with our most power- its own forces and replace fighter jets, Abrams tanks,
ful ally, with a country that some older equipment sent HIMARS artillery systems
guarantees security in Eu- to Ukraine. and Patriot missile launch-
rope, that especially guar- As Europe seeks to gain ing units.
antees security in our part energy independence, Morawiecki’s visit follows
of Europe,” Morawiecki Poland is also planning to two visits to Poland by U.S.
said. build nuclear power plants, President Joe Biden since
Following Russia’s full-scale and has chosen the U.S. Russia invaded Ukraine in
invasion of Ukraine last government and Westing- February 2022. Ukrainian
year, the United States in- house as its partners for its President Volodymyr Zel-
creased its military pres- first plant, to be opened in enskyy also paid an official
ence in Poland a nation on 2033. visit to Warsaw last week.
NATO’s eastern flank that Before departing Warsaw The prime minister said Po-
borders Ukraine and Rus- early Tuesday, Morawiecki land’s alliance with the U.S.
sia’s Kaliningrad exclave told reporters at the airport is “an absolute foundation

and has used Poland as a that Polish-American rela- of our security.”
Poland’s Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki leaves after an EU transit country for military tions “have not been so “It is based on two pillars:
summit at the European Council building in Brussels, on March and humanitarian aid go- good for a long time, and economic and defense
24, 2023. ing into Ukraine. perhaps they have never cooperation. q
Associated Press