Philippines to hold annual Balikatan military exercise with the United States; IISS Report: Asian defense spending is likely to exceed that of Europe, in nominal terms, during 2012
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    • According to reports, the Philippines would hold its large-scale annual Balikatan military exercise with the U.S. next month near an area where it is locked in a tense territorial sea dispute with China. The maneuvers, which this year will involve nearly 7,000 troops, will reinforce the close military ties between the longtime allies. This was told by armed forces chief Lt. Gen. Jessie Dellosa. The General said in a statement, "The cooperation between the two armed forces manifests the unswerving dedication and commitment of our security forces toward a more stable and secure Asia-Pacific region,". About 4,500 U.S. troops will join 2,300 Filipino counterparts in various exercises during April 16-27 on the main island of Luzon and in Palawan. The U.S. Embassy in Manila said in a statement that the exercises would include computer-simulated command post drills, multiple field exercises, as well as medical, engineering, humanitarian and civic activities. 1

    In another development, according to reports, military spending in Asia this year will top that in Europe for the first time, a London-based think tank the International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS) said in its annual assessment of the strength of the world's armies. "Since the financial crisis in 2008, there has been a convergence in European and Asian defense spending levels," IISS Director-General John Chipman said during a news conference at the launch of the "Military Balance 2012" report. "While per capita spending levels in Asia remain significantly lower than those in Europe, on the current trend, Asian defense spending is likely to exceed that of Europe, in nominal terms, during 2012," he added. It was further noted that shifts in global economic power were increasingly reflected in military spending. As per the report China leads the way in Asia and is engaged in a modernization program of its forces and military hardware financed by its rapid economic development. 2

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