AFP told to prepare for any eventualities amid China military drills

The country’s military chief warned Tuesday the Philippines would “inevitably” be involved if neighboring Taiwan was invaded, calling on troops to prepare for that possibility while warning China was working to infiltrate the Filipino military and other institutions.

Armed Forces of the Philippines chief of staff Gen. Romeo Brawner made the comments as Beijing’s military surrounded Taiwan in large-scale exercises it said was practice for a blockade of the self-ruled island, which China has vowed to one day bring under its control.

“Do not be content with securing just the northern hemisphere up to Mabulis Island. Start planning for actions in case there is an invasion of Taiwan,” Brawner said during the anniversary of the Northern Luzon Command, which he said is expected to lead the operation for the rescue of 250,000 overseas Filipino workers in Taiwan in case an invasion happens.

“Because if something happens to Taiwan, inevitably we will be involved,” Brawner said without naming the potential invader. “As members of the armed forces of the Philippines, we should have that mentality that we are already at war.”

Blockade, precision strikes

China on Tuesday sent its army, navy, air and rocket forces to surround Taiwan for large-scale drills Beijing said were aimed at practicing for “precision strikes” and a blockade of the self-ruled island.

Taiwan dispatched its own aircraft and ships, and deployed land-based missile systems, in response to the exercises and accused Beijing of being the world’s “biggest troublemaker.”

China deployed 21 warships around the island, including the Shandong aircraft carrier group, along with 71 aircraft and four coast guard vessels, Taiwan’s defense ministry said.

The drills come after US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said Sunday in Japan that the United States would ensure “credible deterrence” across the Taiwan Strait.

China opposes US support for Taiwan, which Beijing insists is part of its territory and has threatened to use force to bring it under its control.

Tuesday’s exercises were aimed at sending a “stern warning and forceful deterrence” to alleged separatists in Taiwan, Beijing said.

They involved “sea-air combat-readiness patrols, joint seizure of comprehensive superiority, assault on maritime and ground targets, and blockade on key areas and sea lanes,” said Senior Colonel Shi Yi, spokesman of the Chinese military’s Eastern Theater Command.

The drills also involved training for “multi-directional precision strikes” around the island, the Eastern Theater Command said in a statement.

Potential flashpoint

China has carried out multiple large-scale exercises around the island in recent years, often described as rehearsals for a blockade and seizure of the territory.

Analysts have speculated that China was more likely to attempt a blockade of Taiwan than launch an all-out invasion, which was riskier and would require a huge military deployment.

Taiwan—a powerhouse in semiconductor chip manufacturing—is a potential flashpoint for conflict between China and the United States, which is the island’s most important security partner.

While the United States is legally bound to provide arms to Taiwan, Washington has long maintained “strategic ambiguity” when it comes to whether it would deploy its military to defend the island from a Chinese attack.

As this developed, Brawner said the northern Philippines will play host to large-scale joint exercises with ally the United States scheduled to begin April 21.

“These are the areas where we perceive the possibility of an attack. I do not want to sound alarmist, but we have to prepare,” he said.

Brawner also alleged that “communist China is already conducting united front works in our country.”

“They are already infiltrating our institutions, our schools, our businesses, our churches, even our ranks in the military,” he said without giving details.

He said the Philippines was also experiencing “cyber warfare, information warfare, cognitive warfare, political warfare.”

The Chinese embassy did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

The Philippines has in recent weeks made a series of arrests of Chinese suspects accused of conducting surveillance on military camps and Filipino naval and coast guard ships. With AFP