Why the largest-ever US-Philippine drill, and Japan’s role in it, is making China uneasy

AI Summary

The US and Philippine military conducted the largest-ever Balikatan drill this year, increasing participation and training complexity, which has heightened regional tensions with China. Chinese experts warn the drill may exacerbate instability in the Indo-Pacific amid strategic rivalry.

A US and Philippine-led military drill seen as targeting China grew this year into the largest yet, prompting Chinese experts to warn that the annual event will exacerbate regional instability amid heightened tensions in the Indo-Pacific. The decades-old drill called Balikatan, which means shoulder to shoulder, reached record highs in terms of scale, scope of participation and training complexity this year, according to a report published by the South China Sea Strategic Situation Probing...