The Philippine Navy disclosed that Philippines and the United States are set to conduct more than 500 military and security activities this year.

Rear Admiral Roy Vincent Trinidad, Navy spokesperson for the West Philippine said the activities—approved by the Mutual Defense Board – Security Engagement Board (MDB-SEB)—would include large-scale exercises like the Balikatan, maritime cooperative activities (MCAs), air engagements, and subject matter expert exchanges (SMEEs), with the participation of other-like minded nations.

The MDB-SEB forms the framework that directs and enables defense and security cooperation in line with the Mutual Defense Treaty (MDT) between Manila and Washington that calls for each other’s defense in case of an “armed attack.”

The decision to undertake the engagements did not happen overnight, noting that 2026 is viewed as a critical window ahead of China’s stated goal of completing military preparations to attempt unification with Taiwan by force by 2027.

“This is a deterrent to any actions concerning Taiwan that may destabilize the region,” the military official told a group of journalists from the Philippines, Indonesia, Malaysia and Vietnam.

The journalists were selected to participate in the second leg of the inaugural Southeast Asia Maritime Media Visits Project (SEAMMVP)—organized by La Trobe Asia and sponsored by the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT)—in Manila from February 9 to 14.

He added that some of the planned exercises are already considered “rehearsals” for any eventuality, as the timeline coincides with heightened regional tensions linked to heated exchanges and escalating military activities in the Taiwan Strait.

The official pointed out that in the event of a conflict in Taiwan, the “backflow” of over 200,000 Filipinos currently working and residing there is a major concern for the Philippine government.

“Any crisis there will affect the Filipinos there,” he said.

As part of contingency preparations, the government is undertaking “major developments of facilities” in the northern part of the country, particularly in Batanes and the Babuyan Islands in Cagayan, to support possible evacuation efforts.