On Tuesday October 15, thousands of US and Filipino marines kicked off 10 days of joint military exercises, also known as Kamandag, in the northern and western regions of the Philippines.
Kamandag, which stands for “Kaagapay Ng Mga Mandirigma Ng Dagat,” (literally “Cooperation of Warriors of the Sea”) is a routine annual joint military exercise involving the United States and the Philippines. The training includes amphibious operations, live-fire exercises, urban warfare, and skills for responding to natural disasters.
Although this is a routine joint military exercise that occurs every year, it follows a large-scale drill conducted by China around Taiwan just the day before. At the opening ceremony in Manila, Philippine Marine Corps commandant Major-General Arturo Rojas emphasized that Kamandag had been planned well in advance and was “unrelated to current events in the region.”
China’s War Games Around Taiwan
China’s military exercises on October 14 were likely a response to Taiwan President Lai Ching-te’s October 10 speech, in which he reaffirmed his commitment to resisting any attempts by China to annex Taiwan. Lai is strongly opposed by the Chinese government, which considers him a separatist.
Official data shows Taiwan detected a record 153 Chinese military aircraft around the self-ruled island during Chinese war games.
Japan announced that it had voiced its “concerns” to China regarding the military drills and had scrambled fighter jets near its southern island of Yonaguni in response.
Territorial Dispute in South China Sea
China asserts sovereignty over nearly the entire South China Sea, including Thitu Island, which is occupied by the Philippines. Beijing also rejects the 2016 ruling by the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague, which determined that China’s claims had no legal foundation under international law.
Tensions have been rising lately between China and the Philippines, following several confrontations in contested areas of the South China Sea.
Chinese Military Boat Sideswiped Philippine Fisheries Vessel
In the most recent provocation, the Philippines accused a Chinese maritime militia vessel of intentionally colliding with a Philippine patrol boat during a routine patrol near Pag-asa (Sandy) Cays on October 11.
Mao Ning, spokesperson for the Chinese foreign ministry, claimed that the Philippine vessel “acted recklessly in waters under China’s jurisdiction, leading to a collision with a Chinese fishing boat that was operating normally.” She further urged the Philippines to “respect China’s territorial sovereignty and maritime rights in the South China Sea and refrain from actions that could escalate the situation,” during her regular press briefing.