MANILA, Philippines - April 27, 2025 - Missiles were fired off the coast of the northern Philippines on Sunday as United States and Filipino forces conducted their first integrated air and missile defense drills, just hours after China announced it had seized control of a reef claimed by Manila in the disputed South China Sea.
The missile launches took place as part of the ongoing annual Balikatan military exercises, which began on April 21 and will run through May 9. This year’s drills involve approximately 9,000 US and 5,000 Filipino troops and mark the largest and most complex joint exercises to date, featuring a full-scale battle simulation including repelling island assaults and integrated air and missile defense operations.
Among the advanced weaponry deployed is the US Marine Corps’ Navy-Marine Expeditionary Ship Interdiction System (NMESIS), a land-based anti-ship missile system capable of targeting hostile naval forces at long ranges. The system was successfully tested during the Maritime Key Terrain Security Operations in northern Luzon, near the Batanes Islands - a strategic area close to Taiwan and the Scarborough Shoal, where China has recently intensified its assertive actions.
Philippine Brigadier General Michael Logico emphasized the importance of the drills in strengthening deterrence against aggression in the region’s critical maritime chokepoints, including the Bashi Channel. “A peaceful region can only be maintained through a proper balance of strength between opposing forces until such time that both countries decide it’s not worth fighting over this area,” he said.
The drills come amid escalating tensions after China’s announcement that it had taken control of a reef claimed by the Philippines, further heightening fears of conflict in the contested waters of the South China Sea. China has repeatedly criticized the Balikatan exercises, accusing the US and the Philippines of militarizing the region and undermining regional stability.
US Marine Corps Lieutenant General James Glynn, speaking at the opening ceremony in Manila, underscored the purpose of the exercises: “Our combined strength… possesses a degree of lethality for a force that possesses an indomitable warrior ethos and spirit. It’s all dedicated to one purpose: to ensure the defense of the Philippines and to maintain a free and open Indo-Pacific.”
The Balikatan exercises also include participation from allied nations such as Australia, with observers from Japan and other countries attending, reflecting a broader coalition intent on maintaining security and freedom of navigation in the Indo-Pacific.
The drills simulate realistic combat scenarios, including joint defense of Philippine islands against hostile sea and air incursions, reinforcing interoperability between US and Filipino forces. The deployment of advanced missile systems like NMESIS represents a significant enhancement in the Philippines’ defensive capabilities amid ongoing maritime disputes.