Balikatan exercise not directed at China, AFP reiterates

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April 22, 2026 | 12:00am

MANILA, Philippines — For the nth time, the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) has emphasized that the ongoing Balikatan Exercise between the Philippines and the United States and seven other nations is not directed at China.

Beijing has often criticized the conduct of Balikatan war games, especially those held in the West Philippine Sea (WPS).

“First and foremost, we have to understand that the actions of the government of the Republic of the Philippines are one of a sovereign state. Meaning to say, we are allowed to engage any like-minded country, like-minded states in furtherance of our national interest,” Philippine Navy spokesman for the WPS Rear Admiral Roy Vincent Trinidad said.

“Secondly, Balikatan or any other exercises are part of our modernization, part of our defense diplomacy. These are all geared towards making the AFP more modern, more multi-capable. They are not designed against any particular country,” Trinidad explained. “They are defensive in nature, meaning to say all the projects under our program for modernization are designed to be able to secure and to protect what is rightfully and legally ours,” he said.

Meanwhile, Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro Jr. lauded yesterday Japan’s new defense policy that would allow the Philippines more access to its defense equipment.

“The Department of National Defense welcomes the results of the Review of the Three Principles on Transfer of Defense Equipment and Technology and its Implementation Guidelines which will allow the Philippines to access defense articles of the highest quality and supportability which will not only enable us to strengthen domestic resilience but also to contribute to regional stability through deterrence in a meaningful way,” he said. — Jose Rodel Clapano