PH, US end war games after 56 field exercises

PAMPANGA, Philippines – The Philippines and the US on Thursday, April 30, formally closed Balikatan 2015 after 10 days of war games involving over 11,000 troops – the biggest in 15 years.

They conducted a total of 56 field training exercises. The “most significant,” according to Balikatan 2015 exercise director Vice Admiral Alexander Lopez, is the amphibious assault where troops simulated how the American and Filipino forces will operate together to defend a Luzon island from “invaders.” (WATCH: Biggest war games show how US defends PH island from invaders)

“We witnessed not only the immense military capaiblity of the 21 ampbhibious assault vehicles or the AAVs but also the great potentials of these miltiary assets of delivering the much needed help for humanitarian assistance and disaster relief operations coming from the sea,” Lopez said in his speech during the closing ceremony held at the Clark Air Base.

Command Post exercises were also conducted using the same scenario – a Philippine island was invaded – to improve interoperability between the Philippine military and the US Pacific Command. They were held in the Palawan-based Western Command (Wescom), the Philippine military unit responsible for the country’s territorial defense.

“This has validated the defense plan of the Western command, utilizing the joint force elements at its disposal,”Lopez added.

Balikatan 2015 kicked off in the backdrop of growing fears over China’s reclamation in the South China Sea and the Supreme Court’s delay in deciding the constitutionality of the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement.

“I would like to reinforce a promise that our President made just one year ago: ‘Allies never stand alone.’ We are standing with you, side by side, not just for an annual exercise, but for whenever our partnership is trully needed,” said US embassy deputy chief of mission Joni Scandola.  – Carmela Fonbuena/Rappler.com