For the first time since World War II, Japan has deployed combat troops to Philippine soil—approximately 1,400 personnel—as part of Balikatan 2026, the largest edition to date of the joint exercises between the United States and the Philippines.
Troops from the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force fired Type 88 anti-ship missiles from Ilocos Norte, sinking the decommissioned vessel BRP Quezon at a distance of between 50 and 75 kilometers from the coast; this marked the first time Japan has used this system outside its own territory.
The drill—involving forces from the United States, the Philippines, and Australia—simulates the repulsion of an amphibious assault in the South China Sea; China has condemned the maneuver, labeling it "remilitarization" and "playing with fire."
The exercise is taking place between April 20 and May 8, with the participation of approximately 17,000 personnel from seven nations.
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