PREPARATION Armed Forces of the Philippines Chief of Staff Gen. Romeo Brawner Jr. (third from right) leads the opening ceremony of the AFP joint exercise Dagat-Langit-Lupa on Monday which will involve 3,000 active and reserve forces as well as representatives from the Philippine coast. Guard, Philippine National Police and other government agencies. —Lyn Rillon

MANILA, Philippines — The Armed Forces of the Philippines on Monday launched a unilateral joint exercise among its major services to prepare troops to collectively respond “to any external threat” that could challenge the country’s sovereignty.

The AFP Dagat-Langit-Lupa (AJEX DAGIT-PA) joint exercises, Nov. 4-15, will involve 3,000 active and reserve forces in areas covered by the Western Command and the Northern Luzon Command, facing the West Philippine Sea and Taiwan, where China has intensified its aggression due to its growing military power.

“Our mission today is very clear: prepare ourselves comprehensively to respond to any external threat that could challenge our sovereignty,” Chief of Staff General Romeo Brawner Jr. told AFP. , in his speech at the opening ceremony.

READ: West Philippine Sea: 190 Chinese ships spotted last week, navy says

This year’s AJEX DAGIT-PA is a simulation of the military territorial defense plan called Bantay Kalayaan, he said. By next year, the AFP will roll out a new campaign plan that will unify internal and external defense campaign plans.

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“Eventually, everyone will be involved in territorial defense, no matter where you are in the country, while we maintain the gains we have made in homeland security operations,” Brawner said.

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China at the forefront

Like the previous year, a contingent of the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) and the Philippine National Police will also join the exercises from the uniformed services.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Interior and Local Government and Ministry of Social Welfare and Development, among other government agencies, will also be represented at the exercises.

“In the event of war, the PCG and PNP will join us in defending the country…We will also work with other agencies in the event of war,” Brawner said.

According to Major General Marvin Licudine, director of the AJEX DAGIT-PA exercises, China should monitor the exercises as on previous occasions, but it has in any case “planned and prepared for contingencies”.

“China will respond the same way it has always responded. They have a front seat for exercise. They will watch and we don’t mind,” said Colonel Michael Logico, executive agent of AJEX DAGIT-PA, adding that the exercises are not aimed at anyone.

“A large number”

“This is deliberately conducted to enhance our combat readiness and to ensure that our joint forces are fully competent and competent to carry out their mandate,” he said.

Laoag City Mayor Michael Keon said last month that the AJEX DAGIT-PA in his hometown will be held in the city’s sand dunes in Barangay La Paz, covering the west coast up to Burgos , Ilocos Norte.

“This will be an exercise to move a large number of troops and equipment from the town of Laoag to Burgos, which will be a test of logistical organization and maneuvers,” he said in a message on Facebook.

Ilocos Norte is located in the northwest of the Philippines, near the West Philippine Sea and Taiwan, which China considers part of its territory and does not rule out taking it by force if necessary.

“Information warfare”

This weekend, Taiwan reported increased Chinese military activity around the island in the run-up to the U.S. presidential election.

China also claims almost the entire South China Sea, including parts claimed by its neighbors.

The AJEX DAGIT-PA exercises, in addition to the usual field and live fire training, will include for the first time an information warfare exercise, as the army calls for “communications and strategic information in modern defense operations” in an evolving context. of war.

“We must provide correct information not only to our compatriots but to the whole world. Fake news has become commonplace and could turn the tide of the war. In other parts of the world with ongoing conflict, there is a very strong information war going on because they want to give their own narrative to the world,” Brawner told reporters.

“It’s the same thing with what’s happening in the South China Sea or the West Philippine Sea. We all know we are being bullied by the Chinese coast guard and militia, but by their own account, it is the other way around. This is fake news, so we have to respond to it and we have to repeat this in wartime,” he said.