The Armed Forces of the Philippines on Tuesday said the upcoming Philippines–United States Balikatan exercises will train Filipino soldiers in a multi-domain environment using modern weapons systems.

In a press briefing at Camp Aguinaldo, Navy spokesman for the West Philippine Sea Rear Adm. Roy Vincent Trinidad said the AFP welcomes the annual military drills, which will also emphasize the lawful use of the seas amid rising tensions in the West Philippine Sea.

He underscored support for freedom of navigation and overflight, unimpeded lawful commerce and other lawful uses of the sea for all nations.

“The thrust of the AFP for our Balikatan exercises and the other exercises is to go from unilateral to bilateral to multilateral. For Balikatan, we are looking at expanding the different activities that will allow the AFP to train in a multi-domain environment with modern weapons to include different missile systems,” Trinidad said.

“The AFP welcomes every opportunity to be able to train with modern weapons. That includes missile systems. This is a great stop gap, a great filler while awaiting our modernization program,” he added.

Trinidad declined to divulge operational details on the potential deployment of US missile systems and security measures for the exercise.

“We don't go into operational details. Rest assured, we welcome this move as it will allow the AFP to be able to train with modern weaponry,” he said.

Addressing concerns about China’s presence in the West Philippine Sea, Trinidad said war narratives, rapid military buildup and China’s nuclear program are among the sources of instability in the region.

“These actions by the Chinese Communist Party are magnified by their ICAD (Illegal, Coercive, Aggressive and Deceptive) foreign malign influence activities in the country. Our actions, our modest modernization program are a rational and sovereign act of the Republic of the Philippines. They (Chinese) are the source of regional instability by their war narratives and their illegal presence and their foreign malign influence activities in our country,” Trinidad said.

He also responded to recent remarks attributed to Philippine Ambassador to the United States Jose Romualdez that China had built a military base in Scarborough Shoal.

“Our monitoring is that the presence of the PLA Navy, the Chinese Coast Guard and the Maritime Militia in Scarborough is there. We have not monitored any construction on Scarborough Shoal except for the presence of the PLA Navy, the Chinese Coast Guard and the Maritime Militia,” Trinidad said.

“It is safe to assume that warships would be armed with different missiles. So missiles aboard warships could be also the same that would have been what the good ambassador was referring to. Not inside the shoal but on board the ships,” he added.

“I, we only got to know of the statement when you raise it in this press conference,” he said, referring to Romualdez’s statement.

On the planned construction of an airport on Pag-asa Island, Trinidad cited President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s announcement last week, describing it as a sovereign action.

“This is again a sovereign action by the Republic of the Philippines. It is designed to provide the AFP and other government agencies a stronger foothold in our maritime features in the West Philippine Sea. It is a very welcome move to allow the AFP and other government agencies to have more access especially to the people in the municipality of Kalayaan,” he said.

Asked whether he expects China to oppose the move, Trinidad replied: “They (China) have been opposing our actions in the West Philippine Sea since 1992.”