The Philippine and US militaries on Monday kicked off three weeks of joint exercises that will simulate a “full-scale battle scenario”, as the two allies seek to deter to Beijing’s ambitions in the disputed South China Sea.Around 17,000 troops are expected to take part in the annual “Balikatan”, or “shoulder to shoulder” drills, which for the first time will include an integrated air and missile defence simulation to be attended by President Ferdinand Marcos.Sophisticated US weapons including the “highly mobile” NMESIS anti-ship missile system will also be deployed, including near a crucial chokepoint in the waters separating the northern Philippines from self-ruled Taiwan.”We will demonstrate not just our will to uphold our mutual defence treaty in existence since 1951 but our matchless capability to do so,” US Marine Corps Lieutenant General James Glynn said Monday at the Balikatan opening ceremony in Manila.”Nothing builds bonds more quickly than shared adversity,” he added, without specifying a common threat. Philippines Major General Francisco Lorenzo added the exercises would reinforce the country’s ability to address “contemporary security challenges”.The Philippines has been engaged in months of confrontations with Beijing over disputed areas of the South China Sea.It has steadily deepened defence cooperation with treaty ally the United States since Marcos took office in 2022 and began pushing back on China’s sweeping claims to the crucial waterway.During a recent visit to Manila, US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth said Washington was “doubling down” on the alliance.”Deterrence is necessary around the world, but specifically in this region, in your country — considering the threats from the Communist Chinese,” he said in late March.While the bulk of visiting forces involved in Balikatan will be from the United States, countries including Australia and Japan are sending smaller contingents.- ‘More missile systems’ -Last year’s Balikatan featured tests of the US Typhon mid-range missile system, which was left behind following the exercises.The Philippine Army subsequently said it was planning to acquire the Typhon, sparking warnings from China of a regional “arms race”.Chief of Staff Romeo Brawner last month said the Philippines was indeed looking to upgrade its arsenal.”We are looking at acquiring more missile systems to complete the integration of our air and missile defence,” he told New Delhi’s Raisina Dialogue, adding more warships and fighter jets were also being sought.On April 2, the United States said it had approved the possible sale of $5.58 billion in long-coveted F-16 fighter jets to the Philippines, though Manila said the deal was “still in the negotiation phase”.A week later, the Philippines took possession of the first of two corvette-class warships with “advanced weapons and radar systems” acquired in a deal with South Korea’s Hyundai Heavy Industries.- ‘Inevitably’ involved -Given the Philippines’ proximity to Taiwan and its surrounding waters, Manila’s cooperation would be crucial in the event of any US conflict with China.On April 1, as Chinese ships and warplanes surrounded the self-ruled island in a simulated blockade, Brawner said his country would “inevitably” be involved should the democracy be invaded.China considers Taiwan part of its sovereign territory and has vowed to one day bring it under its control.While Manila later said Brawner’s comments were primarily referencing efforts to retrieve Filipino workers in Taiwan, its Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement with Washington gives US forces access to nine bases in the country.Two of those are located in Luzon’s northernmost Cagayan province, which will host live-fire drills during Balikatan this year. 

US Vice President JD Vance began a four-day visit to India on Monday as New Delhi looks to seal an early trade deal and stave off punishing US tariffs.Vance’s visit comes two months after Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi held talks with US President Donald Trump at the White House.A red carpet welcome with an honour guard and troupes of folk dancers greeted Vance after he stepped out into the sweltering sunshine of New Delhi, where he is set to meet with Modi.Vance’s tour also includes a trip to Agra, home to the Taj Mahal, the white marble mausoleum commissioned by a Mughal emperor.The US vice president is accompanied by his family, including his wife Usha, who is the daughter of Indian immigrants, with New Delhi’s broadcasters dubbing the visit “semi-private”.Modi, 74, and Vance, 40, are expected to “review the progress in bilateral relations” and also “exchange views on regional and global developments of mutual interest”, India’s foreign ministry said last week.India and the United States are negotiating the first tranche of a trade deal, which New Delhi hopes to secure within the 90-day pause on tariffs announced by Trump earlier this month. “We are very positive that the visit will give a further boost to our bilateral ties,” India’s foreign ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal told reporters last week.Vance was welcomed at the airport by Ashwini Vaishnaw, a senior member of Modi’s government.- ‘Special bond’ -Vance’s visit comes during an escalating trade war between the United States and China. India’s neighbour and rival faces US levies of up to 145 percent on many products.Beijing has responded with duties of 125 percent on US goods.India has so far reacted cautiously.After the tariffs were announced, India’s Department of Commerce said it was “carefully examining the implications”, adding it was “also studying the opportunities that may arise”.Modi, who visited the White House in February, has an acknowledged rapport with Trump, who said he shares a “special bond” with the Indian leader. Trump, speaking while unveiling the tariffs, said Modi was a “great friend” but that he had not been “treating us right”.During his visit to Washington, Modi said that the world’s largest and fifth-largest economies would work on a “mutually beneficial trade agreement”.While the United States is a crucial market for India’s information technology and services sectors, Washington has made billions of dollars in new military hardware sales to New Delhi in recent years.Trump could visit India later this year for a summit of heads of state from the Quad — a four-way grouping of Australia, India, Japan and the United States.

US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth shared information on forthcoming US air strikes on Yemen in a private Signal chat group that included his wife, brother and personal lawyer, the New York Times and CNN reported on Sunday.AFP was not able to independently verify the reports, which detailed what would be the second time Hegseth has been accused of sharing sensitive military information on the commercial messaging app with unauthorized personnel.Last month, The Atlantic magazine revealed that its editor-in-chief was inadvertently included in a Signal chat in which officials including Hegseth and National Security Advisor Mike Waltz discussed the strikes, which took place on March 15.The revelation sparked an uproar, with US President Donald Trump’s administration facing a scandal over the accidental leak. A Pentagon Inspector-General’s probe into that leak is ongoing.Hegseth is facing increasing criticism from within his own camp, with three former staffers penning a statement decrying their dismissals and his own former Pentagon spokesman all but calling for him to be fired on Sunday.The Times reported that Hegseth had shared information in the second Signal group chat on the same March 15 strikes that were discussed in the accidental leak.The information shared “included the flight schedules for the F/A-18 Hornets targeting the Houthis in Yemen,” the newspaper reported.The outlet said that unlike the accidental leak where journalist Jeffrey Goldberg was mistakenly included in the group, this group chat was created by Hegseth. The other chat was initiated by Waltz.”It included his wife and about a dozen other people from his personal and professional inner circle in January, before his confirmation as defense secretary,” the Times’ reported, citing unnamed sources.Hegseth’s wife Jennifer is a journalist and former Fox News producer. The group also included his brother Phil and Tim Parlatore, both of whom serve in roles at the Pentagon.Parlatore also continues to serve as Hegseth’s personal lawyer, the Times reported.Responding to the report, Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell accused the New York Times of being “Trump-hating media.””There was no classified information in any Signal chat, no matter how many ways they try to write the story,” he said, without providing further specifics.The Pentagon did not respond to AFP requests for specific details on what was shared in the defense secretary’s Signal group chat.- ‘Unconscionable’ -Trump largely pinned the blame for the earlier leak on Waltz, but has dismissed calls to fire top officials and insisted instead on what he called the success of the raids on the Yemeni rebels.This week, three top Pentagon officials were put on leave pending investigations into unspecified leaks in the Defense Department.Deputy chief of staff Darin Selnick, senior advisor Dan Caldwell and Colin Carroll hit back on Sunday, releasing a statement saying Pentagon officials had “slandered our character with baseless attacks.””At this time, we still have not been told what exactly we were investigated for, if there is still an active investigation, or if there was even a real investigation of ‘leaks’ to begin with,” they said in a joint statement posted on social media.”While this experience has been unconscionable, we remain supportive of the Trump-Vance Administration’s mission to make the Pentagon great again and achieve peace through strength.”Hours after the latest reported leak, Hegseth’s former Pentagon spokesperson John Ullyot published a scathing opinion piece describing “a month of total chaos at the Pentagon.””President Donald Trump has a strong record of holding his top officials to account. Given that, it’s hard to see Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth remaining in his role for much longer,” wrote Ullyot.Democrats were quick to pounce on the latest allegations, with Senate Armed Services Committee ranking member Jack Reed calling for the Pentagon Inspector-General to include the latest allegations in its probe.”If true, this incident is another troubling example of Secretary Hegseth’s reckless disregard for the laws and protocols that every other military servicemember is required to follow,” he said in a statement.