Large-Scale Military Drills Begin
The 41st Balikatan Exercises entered its second week on Tuesday with integrated air and missile defence drills along the coast of Zambales province, amid heightened regional tensions.
Footage shows the Marine Air Defence Integrated System (MADIS), described as a ‘drone hunter-killer’, being used to detect, track and neutralise unmanned aerial targets during the exercise.
Advanced Air Defence System in Action
“On this particular exercise, we are witnessing the integrated missile defence, which is our ground to air, protecting our airspace,” said Colonel Xerxes Trinidad, Chief of the Public Affairs Office of the Armed Forces of the Philippines.
He added that Japanese troops could ‘directly’ participate in upcoming phases of the drills.
Regional Tensions and Strategic Locations
The exercises are taking place around 230 kilometres from the Scarborough Shoal, a disputed area in the South China Sea controlled by China since 2012.
More than 17,000 troops from seven countries, including Canada, Australia, New Zealand, France, and Japan, are taking part in the 19-day drills, with additional nations observing.
In response, China has launched naval exercises east of Luzon Island, focusing on live-fire drills, sea-air coordination and rapid manoeuvres.
The parallel exercises come as tensions persist over competing claims in the South China Sea and the Taiwan Strait.
Article by Viory
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