Author: Jim Gomez and Aaron Favila, for The Diplomat

With the growing Chinese threat in mind, President Marcos has ordered his military to shift its focus to external defense from decades-long domestic anti-insurgency.

American and Filipino forces sank a ship with a barrage of high-precision rockets, airstrikes, and artillery fire in their largest war drills on Wednesday in Philippine waters facing the disputed South China Sea. The massive exercises are likely to antagonize China. President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. watched the American show of firepower from an observation tower in the coastal town of San Antonio in northwestern Zambales province, the latest indication of his strong backing of the Philippines’ treaty alliance with the United States. Marcos has ordered his military to shift its focus to external defense from decades-long domestic anti-insurgency battles as China’s increasingly aggressive actions in the South China Sea become a top concern. The shift in the Philippine defense focus is in sync with the Biden administration’s aim of reinforcing an arc of alliances in the Indo-Pacific region to better counter China. China has angered the Philippines by repeatedly harassing its navy and coast guard patrols and chasing away fishermen in waters close to Philippine shores but which Beijing claims as its own.

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Jim Gomez and Aaron Favila

Jim Gomez and Aaron Favila reported for the Associated Press. Favila reported from San Antonio, Philippines. Gomez reported from Manila, Philippines.
Associated Press journalist Joeal Calupitan contributed to this report.

Feature image: U.S. Marine Ospreys prepare to take off the USS Makin Island during Balikatan 23 / via U.S. Indo-Pacific Command flickr