US, Filipino troops kick off biggest-ever military drills, what is the message to Beijing?

Synopsis

Starting Tuesday, over 17,000 U.S. and Philippine troops engage in the largest joint military exercises, known as the Balikatan drills. This year's exercises are notably larger, focusing on rehearsing how to sink a ship with a rocket barrage in the South China Sea and Taiwan Straits. Tensions between Manila and Washington on one side and Beijing on the other have escalated due to competing territorial claims in the South China Sea. Colonel Michael Logico, spokesperson for the Philippine exercises, emphasizes the need to drill for the protection of sovereign territory, stating the importance of preparing to retake islands claimed by China. The drills, initially planned for Ilocos Norte, were relocated to avoid being too provocative near Taiwan, as highlighted by Senator Aimee Marcos, who questioned military leaders about the location. The exercises send a clear message of military readiness to Beijing amid ongoing regional tensions.