TOKYO, April 20 (Xinhua) -- Japan is sending 1,400 personnel, its largest-ever contingent, to the annual joint military drills conducted by the Philippines and the United States, which kicked off on Monday, Kyodo News reported.

Lt. Gen. Christian Wortman, Commanding General of the U.S. Marine Expeditionary Force, speaks during the opening ceremonies of the joint military exercise dubbed "Balikatan" or "Shoulder to Shoulder," Monday, April 20, 2026, at Camp Aguinaldo military headquarters in Quezon city, Philippines. (Photo: AP)

It is the first time the Japan Self-Defense Forces (SDF) have fully participated in the exercises.

Aside from the personnel, Japan is also deploying three ships and two aircraft. The SDF plans to testfire a Type-88 guided missile during the war game, the report said.

The military exercises, named "Balikatan," which means "shoulder-to-shoulder," involve over 17,000 personnel from seven countries, including Australia, Canada, France, Japan, and New Zealand, and will run until May 8.

Amid the Middle East conflict, the Philippines declared a state of national energy emergency in late March. Filipinos have been criticizing the government for allowing U.S. military presence in the Philippines, and calling for improvement in the economy and people's livelihood

Responding to the military drills, Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun said on Monday that what the Asia-Pacific region needs most is peace and tranquility, not the introduction of external forces or the fomenting of division and confrontation.