Just weeks after a French frigate joins #Balikatan2024, the frigate #FSBretagne visits #Manila with plans to hold a joint exercise with the #PhilippineNavy

#France is eyeing closer defense ties with the #Philippines as it enters the preliminary stages of negotiations for a Status of the Visiting Forces Agreement (#VFA).

French destroyer visits Manila as #Paris eyes deeper security ties with PH
https://www.rappler.com/philippines/france-deeper-security-ties-bretagne-destroyer-visit/

Image source: https://www.seaforces.org/marint/French-Navy/Destroyer-Frigate/D-655-FS-Bretagne.htm

The live fire exercises were held throughout the week along the shores of the coastal city of #Laoag in northern Ilocos province, the closest mainland Philippine province to #China.

They capped the largest ever #Balikatan, or “shoulder-to-shoulder,” joint military exercises between US and Philippine troops, cementing a dramatic policy shift. #Balikatan2024

#Philippines, #US simulate mock invasions in largest ever war games
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2024/5/9/philippines-us-simulate-mock-invasions-in-largest-ever-war-games

Back toot: https://noc.social/@Norobiik/112337329834346693

I've started to track #EUinAsia articles as it's becoming apparent that this economic & political behemoth with a combined population of 500M+ is extending it's reach into our backyard to a degree I haven't seen before.

On the defense end, a French warship joined our #Balikatan2024 military exercises for the first time. Two German warships are also passing through the #SouthChinaSea where 40% of #Europe's foreign trade flows.

We're in the major leagues now, god help us 🇵🇭

The #Philippines’ #BRPDavaoDelSur and #BRPRamonAlcaraz, #US landing ship #USSHarpersFerry, and #FrenchFrigate #Vendémiaire will be spending five days at sea for communications exercises, cross-deck landing, division tactics, photo exercise, and maritime search and rescue drills. #France

IN PHOTOS: PH, US, French navies hold maritime drills during #Balikatan2024
https://www.rappler.com/philippines/photos-united-states-french-navies-maritime-exercise-balikatan-2024/

Been waiting for #Rappler to cover this.
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The #BrahMos aren’t the only mid-range missile systems on Philippine soil in April 2024.

In mid-April, the #UnitedStates’ 1st Multi-Domain Task Force deployed the Mid-Range Capability (MRC) missile system to Northern #Luzon for military exercises. #Balikatan2024

#India-made BrahMos missiles are finally in the #Philippines
https://www.rappler.com/philippines/india-russia-made-brahmos-missiles-april-2024/

The activity, which is part of the #Balikatan2024 war games, will see the navies of #Manila, #Washington, and #Paris conduct various drills, including #gunnery exercises and maritime #SearchAndRescue.

This comes as a substantial increase in the number of Chinese vessels was monitored in the #WestPhilippineSea. #China

#Philippines, #US, #France start joint patrols in #WestPHSea
https://globalnation.inquirer.net/233383/philippines-us-france-start-joint-patrols-in-west-ph-sea

According to the Armed Forces of the #Philippines, the three #warships of the People’s Liberation Army Navy were seen on Monday in the vicinity of #PagAsa Island, about 500 km west of #Palawan, and #Lawak and #Patag Islands, which are about 300 kilometers west of the province. #WestPHSea #Balikatan2024

#AFP spots 124 #China vessels around WPS ahead of ‘Balikatan’
https://globalnation.inquirer.net/233110/afp-spots-124-china-vessels-around-wps-ahead-of-balikatan

#MANILA, #Philippines – The navies of the #Philippines, #UnitedStates, and #France will sail together in the #WestPhilippineSea by end-April, as part of the 2024 Exercise #Balikatan. The joint exercises will be hosted in four #Luzon provinces that are critical to regional security in the #IndoPacific and #SouthChinaSea. #WestPHSea

View from Manila: West Philippine Sea part of 'most ambitious, complicated' #Balikatan2024 war games
https://www.rappler.com/philippines/view-from-manila-balikatan-war-games-west-sea/

For the first time ever, the #PhilippineCoastGuard will be part of the yearly drills, for a multilateral maritime exercise off the coast of #Palawan, in the #WestPhilippineSea.

#Rappler reporter #BeaCupin previews what will be happening in the comings weeks, and why it matters as tensions in the #SouthChinaSea heat up. #WestPHSea #Balikatan2024

Rappler Recap: PH, US troops flex ability to work together in 'most ambitious' Balikatan
https://www.rappler.com/philippines/recap-united-states-troops-flex-ability-work-together-balikatan-2024/

At a naval conference in #Qingdao on Monday, #ZhangYouxia, vice-chairman of the #CentralMilitaryCommission, said the sea should not be an arena in which countries can flex their “gunboat muscles”.

Beijing repeatedly says it pursues dialogue to resolve maritime disputes in the #SouthChinaSea, but makes clear this is largely on its own terms. #China #Balikatan2024

Beijing warns against flexing of ‘gunboat muscles’ as #US and #Philippines begin military drills
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2024/apr/22/us-philippines-military-drills-balikatan