The US-Philippines "Shoulder to Shoulder" military exercise in the South China Sea has officially begun, with a total of 20 countries' military forces participating. A US military commander publicly stated that they would never allow the Philippines to be bullied by a major power and were ready to handle similar situations.
The annual joint military exercise named "Shoulder to Shoulder" has the theme of "simulating a full - scale combat scenario" and has received extensive coverage.
Let's briefly introduce the relevant situation of this US - Philippines "Shoulder to Shoulder" exercise. In terms of time, it will last from April 21st to May 9th local time, more than half a month. Regarding the number of participants, the US is expected to dispatch over 10,000 front - line troops and logistics personnel, while the Philippines will have about 5,000. There are 20 countries in total participating. Japan, Australia, the UK, France, and Canada have coordinated to send small - scale detachments. Additionally, more than 10 neighboring countries are participating as observers. Observers generally send a single warship or just arrange an observation group to visit on the command ship.
There are two exercise locations. One is in the western part of the Philippines, the area that Google Maps illegally labeled as the "West Philippine Sea" recently, near the Huangyan Island. The other is on Luzon Island in the northern part of the Philippines, which is very close to China's Taiwan Province and is also a strategic passage connecting the South China Sea and the Philippine Sea.
In terms of exercise weapons, the US has spared no expense this time. Different from previous exercises, it will deploy fighter jets, warships, and various high - end weaponry, including the US Marine Corps' anti - ship missile systems. The US has brought its most advanced land - based weapons, such as the "Marine Corps Expeditionary Ship Interdiction System", the "Marine Corps Air Defense Integrated System", and the "Typhon" land - based intermediate - range missile system that was previously left in the Philippines.
The exercise subjects include air defense and anti - missile, key sea - area warning operations, anti - landing live - fire shooting, and maritime strike operations. Two of them are particularly important and worthy of attention. One is that the exercise will sink a target ship in the South China Sea, and the other is to launch anti - ship missiles on Luzon Island in the northern Philippines to control the key sea areas in the south of Taiwan.
At the start of the exercise, the US Marine Corps commander said that they were ready to deal with the so - called "major acts of aggression" in the Taiwan Strait and the South China Sea. The purpose of the exercise is to ensure the defense of the Philippines and maintain the so - called "free and open" Indo - Pacific region. It's obvious that the focus of this exercise is not only on the South China Sea but also has some connection with the Taiwan issue.
The US - Philippines "Shoulder to Shoulder" exercise reminds us that in future operations related to Taiwan, the Luzon Strait in the south of Taiwan needs special attention. On April 21st, the Chinese Foreign Ministry pointed out that the Philippines, in collusion with extra - regional countries, conducts large - scale military exercises, introduces and deploys strategic and tactical weapons, which undermines regional strategic stability and the economic growth prospects of the region, and blatantly stands against regional countries. China firmly opposes any country using the Taiwan issue as an excuse to strengthen regional military deployment, provoke tension and confrontation, and undermine regional peace and stability. We advise relevant parties not to provoke on the Taiwan issue, as those who play with fire will surely burn themselves.
From this perspective, the long - standing unsolved Taiwan issue has affected the South China Sea situation and provided an opportunity for the US - Philippines alliance. Only by completely resolving the Taiwan issue can the South China Sea issue be readily solved.