Dennis Gasgonia

Philippine Army and U.S. Army Pacific troops conduct a cold load training exercise geared at enhancing their skills in entering and exiting an inactive helicopter in Fort Magsaysay, Nueva Ecija on April 4, 2022.

The exercise is one of the seven combined interoperability exercises (COIEs) between the two armies as part of the Balikatan 2022. 

Sgt Sanny E Palatao PA/ OG7, TRADOC, PA

Article (news)

PH-US JOINT EXERCISES

Bianca Dava

ABS-CBN News

MANILA — Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. on Friday brushed off China’s criticisms of the Balikatan Exercise 2026 and Japan’s expanded participation in the drills, saying Beijing itself poses the greater threat to regional stability. “Ang tanong ko, papaano?” Teodoro said when asked about China’s claim that the Japan Self-Defense Forces’ (JSDF) firing of their Type 88 surface-to-ship missile threatened peace and regional stability. “Number one, hindi ako bilib. Number two, wala silang pakialam dun. Anong pakialam nila? Pakialaman nila sarili nilang bakuran,” he told reporters on the sidelines of the Balikatan closing ceremony at Camp Aguinaldo in Quezon City.<div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/5/6/balikatan-2026-japan-fires-type-88-missile-hits-target-75-km-offshore-1533">Balikatan 2026: Japan fires Type 88 missile, hits target 75 km offshore</a></div>Teodoro accused China of intimidation not only against the Philippines, but also against other neighboring countries. “Ano ba yung ginagawa nila? Yung panunupil nila sa West Philippine Sea at sa iba’t ibang mga lugar. Kahit Vietnam, ginaganon nila. Recently, yung Malaysia at Indonesia, ginaganon nila,” he said. United States Indo-Pacific Command (INDOPACOM) chief Admiral Samuel Paparo Jr. echoed concerns over rising tensions in the region, describing the Indo-Pacific as an increasingly dangerous environment due to coercive actions and territorial disputes. “That’s a direct expression of the dangers that we’re living in. We’ve seen in the last months coercive activities. We’ve seen the penetration of territorial waters. We’ve seen unilateral announcements of excessive claims. We see that backed up with force. And I think we see signs all around us that we’re living in a dangerous environment,” Paparo said in an interview with reporters. “There are neighbors who have excessive claims and territorial disputes with every one of their neighbors, including the Republic of the Philippines,” he added. “I see signs abound that we’re living in a tense and dangerous environment with active coercion ongoing. And the Philippines, certainly Philippine fisherfolk, Philippine Coast Guard experience it every day.” Paparo called these actions a “direct threat” to the Philippines’ sovereignty, prosperity, and freedom. <div>ASEAN IN BALIKATAN </div>Meanwhile, Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) chief General Romeo Brawner Jr. said Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) member states continue to participate in regional security efforts through bilateral and minilateral arrangements focused on humanitarian assistance and disaster response (HADR). <div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/5/6/marcos-witnesses-balikatan-2026-showcase-in-camp-aguinaldo-1621">Marcos witnesses Balikatan 2026 showcase in Camp Aguinaldo</a></div>For the Balikatan Exercise, ASEAN member states serve as observers. “Right now, the participation of ASEAN is more bilateral in nature—Philippines with the ASEAN neighbor,” Brawner said. “We are not excluding anyone from the Balikatan Exercise. We welcome as many countries as possible,” he continued. Brawner said that while the participation of ASEAN in the Balikatan Exercise is limited for now, the Philippines remains open to broader involvement in the future.

Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. on Friday brushed off China’s criticisms of the Balikatan Exercise 2026 and Japan’s expanded participation in the drills, saying Beijing itself poses the greater threat to regional stability.

Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. on Friday brushed off China’s criticisms of the Balikatan Exercise 2026 and Japan’s expanded participation in the drills, saying Beijing itself poses the greater threat to regional stability.

‘Anong pakialam nila?’: Teodoro slams China over Balikatan criticism

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‘Anong pakialam nila?’: Teodoro slams China over Balikatan criticism

Bianca Dava,

ABS-CBN News

Published May 08, 2026 03:52 PM PHT

Read More:

Balikatan Exercise

Armed Forces of the Philippines

Philippines

United States

China

Type 88 surface-to-ship missile

Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr.

General Romeo Brawner Jr.

Admiral Samuel Paparo

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