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The US kicked off its largest annual military drills alongside the Philippines days ago this week, simulating a full-on war with China.

A total of 17,000 troops from 20 countries participated in the drills, dubbed Balikatan 2025, including 9,000 American soldiers and 5,000 Filipino servicemen. 

US Marine Corps Forces Pacific commander Lt. Gen. James Glynn said this year’s drills "will showcase a full battle test, the purposeful integration of real world security situations relevant to the region with live, virtual and constructive training opportunities that will give the Philippines and the US a collective opportunity to demonstrate capabilities across all domains, across all services and all forces."  Illustrative/AFPA statement from the Philippine military likewise said that the exercises would simulate a "full-scale battle scenario."

Many nations sent observers to the Philippines for the drills. For the first time, Japanese soldiers were full participants in the war games. General Romeo Brawner, chief of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, noted that Balikatan would take place in the northern Philippines, near the South China Sea and Taiwan. "Across the vibrant expanse of Luzon, Palawan, the Visayas and Mindanao, we will assess our readiness in all domains," he said. The South China Sea and Taiwan are flashpoints in a potential conflict between the US and China, which sees the island as part of its own sovereign territory. A press release from the US Navy explained that the war games were proof that Washington would honor its defense treaty with Manila. Balikatan is a "testament to the ironclad alliance and enduring friendship between the Philippines and the United States," it said. Chinese and Philippine vessels have collided around disputed rocks and reefs in the South China Sea on several occasions in recent years.

While the incidents have not led to direct hostilities, Washington often restates its pledge to go to war on Manila’s behalf as a warning to Beijing not to attack the Philippines. Along with additional participants in the drills, Balikatan 2025 will feature integrated air and missile defense. This includes one of the first live-fire tests of the Marine Air Defense Integrated System (MADIS), a short-range anti-drone platform. 

During Balikatan 2024, the US deployed the Typhon launcher – a covert system that is concealed in a 40-foot shipping container and fires Tomahawk and SM-6 missiles – to the Philippines. In a major provocation to Beijing, Washington kept the system in the country’s north, where it was capable of striking Taiwan or even mainland China. A Typhon launcher will be deployed again for this year’s Balikatan.

LowIQTrash » 26 Apr 2025, 8:16 pm » wrote: ↑

26 Apr 2025, 8:16 pm

Why doesn't he support the good 'ol red, white, and blue...  

https://www.zerohedge.com/geopolitical/ ... hilippines


 

31stArrival » 27 Apr 2025, 8:07 am » wrote: ↑

27 Apr 2025, 8:07 am

I don't fully support America as it is governed today. I support the idea of what America was to become as of Sept.1789. That promise ended Jan. 1791 with the first 10 amendments to the constitution following humanity's methods of corrupting every generation gap added from that time.

murdock » 27 Apr 2025, 8:27 am » wrote: ↑

27 Apr 2025, 8:27 am

We knew you were a **** traitor. Please get stood against a wall! Ya babbling son of a **** stain.

LowIQTrash » 26 Apr 2025, 8:16 pm » wrote: ↑

26 Apr 2025, 8:16 pm

Why doesn't he support the good 'ol red, white, and blue...  

https://www.zerohedge.com/geopolitical/ ... hilippines

*GHETTO BLASTER » 27 Apr 2025, 9:32 am » wrote: ↑

27 Apr 2025, 9:32 am

Sumela has an extensive knowledge of past and present foreign policy and how it has affected the people on the receiving end of our conquests.

Naturally his critical view isn't going to win him many popularity contests with the "Love it or Leave it" gang.. 

I would like to know what he thinks about this mess with China.
I don't spend any time trying to keep up with what's going on abroad and so Sumela has been my "Cliff's Notes" source.....

 
 

31stArrival » 27 Apr 2025, 8:39 am » wrote: ↑

27 Apr 2025, 8:39 am

I betrayed my ancestry's enablement of corrupted methods of being ruled by reasonable doubt administered by leading deniers of life in plain sight daily here building institutions to prevent next generation brains from standing against their previous 4 generation gaps as done by gods, God, Allah, Buddha, Mother Nature, Satan promising 7 tomorrows 52 weeks a year rewarding compliance with positions of power wealth, and fame the obedient classes don't get the privileges of those defining who's who cradle to grave in a court of law between city hall and global economy regulated by civil contract law keeping promises of tomorrow going forward each generation, or else.

Humanity proved that 2,025 years ago in the middle east separating Am and Pm sides of the planet day and night, north and south, dawn to dusk, every ancestor came and gone between.

*GHETTOBLASTER » 27 Apr 2025, 9:32 am » wrote: ↑

27 Apr 2025, 9:32 am

Sumela has an extensive knowledge of past and present foreign policy and how it has affected the people on the receiving end of our conquests.

Naturally his critical view isn't going to win him many popularity contests with the "Love it or Leave it" gang.. 

I would like to know what he thinks about this mess with China.
I don't spend any time trying to keep up with what's going on abroad and so Sumela has been my "Cliff's Notes" source.....