A Chinese Coast Guard ship number 5402 sails in North Natuna waters in the disputed area of ​​the South China Sea, Indonesia, Friday, Oct. 25, 2024. (BAKAMLA/AP)

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine military opened two weeks of combat exercises on Monday that would include seizing an island in the disputed South China Sea and are likely to be deterred by China.

More than 3,000 members of the Philippine army, navy and air force will take part in the exercises, which Philippine military officials said are not directed against any country.

China has rapidly expanded its military and has become increasingly assertive in pursuing territorial claims in the South China Sea, which Beijing claims virtually in its entirety. Tensions have led to more frequent clashes, primarily with the Philippines and Vietnam, although long-standing territorial disputes also involve Malaysia, Indonesia, Brunei and Taiwan.

Last month, Indonesia said its patrol vessels chased away a Chinese coast guard ship that had disrupted a survey undertaken by a state energy company in a part of the South China Sea disputed by both countries.

“Our mission today is very clear, to prepare comprehensively to respond to any external threats that may endanger our sovereignty,” said Armed Forces of the Philippines Chief General Romeo Brawner Jr. at the ceremony opening exercises.

The maneuvers will include live-fire exercises using artillery and assault rifles and beach landing exercises. In the South China Sea, Philippine forces would simulate taking control of an island, said Col. Michael Logico of the Philippine Army told reporters without elaborating.

Asked how China might react, Logico said he expected Chinese forces to conduct remote surveillance, but added that they were unlikely to make any hostile moves.

“They have a front row seat at practice. They will watch and we don’t mind,” Logico said.

China opposed such combat exercises in the South China Sea, especially if US and allied forces were involved.

The outgoing Biden administration has taken steps to strengthen an arc of military alliances in the Indo-Pacific to better counter China, including in any future confrontation over Taiwan. America’s moves dovetail with Philippine efforts to bolster its territorial defenses amid a long-running dispute, mainly with China, in the South China Sea.

Next year, US and Philippine forces plan to hold their largest annual combat drills called Balikatan, Tagalog for shoulder to shoulder, which are also expected to include maneuvers in disputed areas of the South China Sea.