The US and Philippine armed forces are set to launch their third joint military drills since spring, focusing on land operations under the Kamandag exercise, beginning May 26 in the Philippines amid escalating tensions with China in the South China Sea.
These drills are expected to last 12 days and will involve about 2,000 US military personnel. Forces from Japan, South Korea, and the United Kingdom will also participate, Caliber.Az reports via foreign media.
US Marines will arrive in the Philippines from their rotational base in Darwin, Australia. Earlier this year, the US Marines held exercises on the southern Philippine island of Mindanao from March 31 to April 11.
From April 21, US and Philippine forces have been conducting the Balikatan joint exercises, which focus on preparing for full-scale combat operations in areas of tension such as Taiwan and the South China Sea. These exercises include countering threats in the Luzon Strait, one of the key maritime passages for the Chinese navy into the Pacific, conducting anti-ship missile strikes, defending islands from enemy attacks, and regaining control over islands occupied by adversaries. During the Kamandag exercises, the forces will conduct live missile and artillery training, alongside amphibious landings on the coastline.
These drills occur amid heightened tensions between China and the Philippines over contested territories in the Philippine exclusive economic zone in the South China Sea. In a recent escalation, at the end of April, China claimed control over the Sandy Cay reef in the Spratly Islands, raising its flag there, which significantly increased tensions in the region. The 200-square-meter Sandy Cay now gives China control over a 12-mile maritime zone under international law. However, this zone overlaps with the Philippine island of Titu, which Manila uses to monitor Chinese naval activities in the South China Sea.
By Naila Huseynova
Source: caliber.az
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