Trending Now - US and Allies Begin Military Exercises in Philippines Amid China Concerns

WHO:

AP News - The United States and the Philippines are involved in the military exercises.

AP News - Marine Lt. Gen. Christian Wortman represents the U.S. military.

AP News - Gen. Romeo Brawner is the chief of staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines.

AP News - Guo Jiakun is a spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in China.

AP News - U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth visited Manila last year.

WHAT:

AP News - The U.S. and the Philippines kicked off one of their largest combat exercises, named Balikatan.

AP News - More than 17,000 military personnel are participating in the exercises.

AP News - Nearly 10,000 U.S. military personnel are involved in the drills.

AP News - The exercises will last nearly three weeks and include mock battle scenarios and live-fire maneuvers.

ABC News - Japan is deploying a 1,400-member contingent to the Balikatan, its largest participation since becoming an observer nation.

WHERE:

AP News - The exercises are taking place in the Philippines, specifically in provinces facing the South China Sea and the Taiwan Strait.

AP News - Japanese forces will fire missiles from the northwestern Philippine province of Ilocos Norte.

WHEN:

AP News - The military exercises began on Monday, April 18th, 2026.

AP News - The exercises will last nearly three weeks.

WHY:

AP News - The exercises aim to deter aggression in Asia and prepare allied forces to respond to natural disasters.

AP News - China has objected to the drills, claiming they are aimed at containing its global rise.

HOW:

AP News - U.S. forces will use a marine drone laden with explosives to bombard a mock enemy ship during the drills.

AP News - Japanese forces will fire missiles to help sink a mock enemy ship located about 40 kilometers (25 miles) away.

(UPDATED April 20, 2026 19:36 UTC)

The United States and the Philippines have launched one of their largest combat exercises, known as Balikatan, which began on Monday and will last nearly three weeks, involving over 17,000 military personnel, including nearly 10,000 from the U.S. Marine Lt. Gen. Christian Wortman represents the U.S. military, while Gen. Romeo Brawner leads the Armed Forces of the Philippines, and Japan is contributing a 1,400-member contingent, marking its largest participation since becoming an observer nation. The exercises, taking place in provinces facing the South China Sea and the Taiwan Strait, aim to deter aggression in Asia and prepare allied forces for natural disaster responses, despite objections from China, which claims the drills are intended to contain its global rise. During the exercises, U.S. forces will utilize a marine drone loaded with explosives to target a mock enemy ship, while Japanese forces will fire missiles from Ilocos Norte to assist in sinking the same target located about 25 miles away.