Some fear US-Philippines war games are drawing conflict closer to home
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- Balikatan – the three‑week joint exercises in the Philippines were the biggest ever, with over 17,000 troops from six nations.
- United States – contributed roughly 10,000 soldiers, the lion’s share of the foreign contingent, alongside allies Canada, Japan, Australia, France and New Zealand.
- Ilocos Norte – the northern coastal province, just 345 km south of Taiwan, hosted armored vehicles, drones and live‑fire drills that disrupted local fishing and farming livelihoods.
- Raymond Palatino – the secretary‑general of activist coalition Bayan warned the drills provoke China and extend US military reach from West Asia to the West Philippine Sea.
- Iran – US forces are simultaneously engaged in a war against Iran, linking the Philippines drills to broader US military commitments.
Why it matters: The drills disrupt livelihoods of local fishermen and farmers, while the US expands its military presence near Taiwan, a move analysts say provokes China and fuels regional rivalry.
