Balikatan 2026: US, Japan, Philippines flex military muscle amid China tensions
Japan fires first overseas offensive missile in 80 years during joint drills.
During Balikatan 2026, the US, Japan, and the Philippines conducted live-fire missile tests in northern Philippine waters. Japan's Type 88 surface-to-ship missile struck a decommissioned warship 75km away in under six minutes, marking Tokyo's first overseas offensive missile launch in 80 years. Meanwhile, the US Army's Typhon system fired a Tomahawk cruise missile at a target 630km away – the first operational use of the controversial launcher since its Philippine deployment two years ago. The volley concluded the exercises with a pointed display of integrated mobile strike capabilities.
China swiftly condemned Japan's missile test as evidence of rising 'neo-militarism,' while analysts view the drills as a clear deterrent message. Chris Gardiner from the Institute for Regional Security noted the signal is 'not today' – a warning against using force against the Philippines or altering the status quo around Taiwan. The exercises underscore growing trilateral defense cooperation amid escalating South China Sea tensions and concerns over Chinese military assertiveness.
- Japan's Type 88 missile covered 75km in 6 minutes, its first overseas offensive launch in 80 years.
- US Tomahawk from Typhon system struck a target 630km away, marking the launcher's first operational use in the Philippines.
- China condemned the drills as 'neo-militarism,' while analysts say they signal resolve to deter force against the Philippines or changes to Taiwan's status quo.
Why It Matters
The drills demonstrate a new era of integrated, long-range strike capabilities among US allies in the Indo-Pacific.