By Robina Asido

The Philippines will not be drawn in possible Taiwan - China conflict, a military official said despite the deployment of United States (US) Navy-Marine Expeditionary Ship Interdiction System (NMESIS) in the northernmost Islands of the country as part of this year's 40th iteration of Balikatan exercises that formally began on Monday.

In a press conference following the opening ceremony of Balikatan exercise in Camp Aguinaldo, Philippine Balikatan Exercise Director Maj. Gen. Francisco Lorenzo Jr. said "the Balikatan exercise may probably help deter the conflict in Taiwan" but he added that the annual bilateral drill between US and Philippine forces "is only for deterrence of any possible incursion or invasion" in the Philippines.

"The Philippines has renounced war as a means of its national policy. So if there ever will be conflict in Taiwan, definitely we will not participate and we will still continue on defending our territory and maintaining its integrity. So whenever, wherever we conduct exercises we focus on defense not offense," he said.

In its official website, the United States Marine Corps announced that the "NMESIS will be employed during the Maritime Key Terrain Security Operations (of Balikatan) in Northern Luzon and the Batanes Islands".

"During this event, US Marines with 3d Littoral Combat Team’s Medium-Range Missile Battery and Philippine Marines with 4th Marine Brigade will use air lift from the US Army’s 25th Combat Aviation Brigade and the US Air Force’s 29th Tactical Airlift Squadron to transport several NMESIS launchers from Northern Luzon to multiple islands in the Batanes island chain. Once on the islands, US and Philippine Marines will work together to establish a Fires Expeditionary Advanced Base," it stated.

It also noted that although "the 3d LCT’s MMSL Battery will not fire the NMESIS during Balikatan, 3d Marine Littoral Regiment's (MLR’s) Fire Support Coordination Center will use the opportunity presented by placing the NMESIS on islands in the Luzon Strait to conduct simulated fires missions."

Aside from Batanes Islands, the Balikatan exercise that will run until May 9, will also be conducted in other parts of the country, including Cagayan, Zambales, Palawan.

United States Ambassador to the Philippines Marykay Carlson said that "through the additional deployment of NMESIS, the full battle test and all the main capability training" the joint US - Philippine force is taking the two countries "alliance to the next level".

"I am especially pleased to see the growing collaboration with our allies, including Australia, Canada, France, Japan, the United Kingdom, and others who join us today," she said.

"Your presence underscores that our shared goals strengthen borders, uniting us in a common purpose to promote stability and prosperity across the region," she added.

Despite the pending approval of the Reciprocal Assess Agreement (RAA) between the Philippines and Japan, Lorenzo confirmed the participation of Japan Maritime-Self Defense Force (JMSDF) JS Yahagi frigate in the conduct of joint sail exercise under the multilateral maritime event of Balikatan this month.

"The Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force will be joining the joint sail within the Philippines exclusive economic zone. Apart from that, they will be observing other activities or exercises during the Balikatan," he said.

In an interview with the Daily Manila Shimbun, Lt. Col. Ishikawa Daisuke, Japan Ground Self Defense Force (JGSDF) Public Affairs Deputy Director said JS Yahagi with 90 crewmen onboard will not dock in any ports during the exercise.

Aside from Japan and Australia, 16 other nations including Brunei, Canada, Czech Republic, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Lithuania, Malaysia, Netherlands, New Zealand, Republic of Korea, Singapore, Thailand, United Kingdom and Vietnam are scheduled to take part in the AFP hosted international observer program.DMS