As part of the Multinational Exercise Balikatan 2025, the Armed Forces of the United States, Australia, and the Philippines conducted an activity in which they repelled a simulated amphibious invasion in the South China Sea. In this 40th edition, which will run until May 9, one of the key operations brought together combined forces on the island of Palawan, Philippines, to demonstrate interoperability, capabilities, and coordination among the participating countries in light of rising tensions between Beijing and Manila.
As is the case with each iteration, the Balikatan exercise represents one of the most significant joint deployments of the U.S. and Philippine Armed Forces in Asia, showcasing the strong ties between the two nations. This year, the exercise also included assets and personnel from the Australian Defence Force, bringing together more than 14,000 troops and featuring systems from a range of land, amphibious, and aerial platforms, among others.
Under the new U.S. administration, which seeks to bolster its presence in Asia and strengthen relations with regional allies amid China’s growing influence, one of the six operations carried out during this deployment involved combined forces confronting a “simulated maritime intrusion”—repeating a scenario seen in last year’s KAMANDAG and Balikatan exercises. This event, held on Palawan Island, involved a U.S. Army High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS), Australian teams equipped with Javelin anti-tank missiles, and a division of Philippine Navy assault boats, all working together to respond to and repel the simulated invasion.
“This was the U.S. Army’s opportunity to demonstrate the capability … by placing land-based fires into relevant positions to support territorial defense in support of a mutual defense ally,” stated Lieutenant Colonel Ben Blane, commander of the 1st Multi-Domain Task Force’s Long Range Fires Battalion. During the exercise, Philippine naval units fired cannons and Spike-ER missiles at maritime targets, including an unmanned vessel. Simultaneously, U.S. Army HIMARS systems traveled over 200 kilometers to Palawan, where they conducted live-fire drills after a complex deployment maneuver by air, sea, and land.
Balikatan 2025 takes place amid heightened tensions between China and the Philippines, marked by increasingly confrontational incidents in disputed areas of the South China Sea. Recently, Chinese and Philippine forces landed in multiple formations to assert maritime claims over a group of sandbanks near Thitu (Pag-asa) Island and China’s artificial island base at Subi Reef.
These events add to the ongoing maritime and aerial patrols conducted jointly by the United States and the Philippines. For instance, in recent weeks, the U.S. Pacific Air Forces and the U.S. Marine Corps deployed a B-1B bomber and F/A-18 Hornet fighters from Clark, Philippines. Earlier, in February of this year, another U.S. Air Force B-1B Lancer and Philippine Air Force KAI FA-50PH fighter jets carried out a joint patrol over the South China Sea.
In addition to the Philippines, the United States, and Australia, the exercise includes participants and observers from several countries, such as Japan, the United Kingdom, France, and Canada. This year, the Czech Republic, Lithuania, Poland, and the Netherlands are participating as observers for the first time.
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