00:04Bursts of fire ring out from fighting positions, into seas usually harvested by fishers.
00:10This is part of the drills to defend the coast here in the northwest Philippines.
00:15It's offering a glimpse into the close coordination among U.S., Japanese, and Philippine forces
00:21during this year's Balikatan exercise.
00:24But these drills have disrupted daily life here, especially for local fishers.
00:31The government has imposed a no-sale order, and an exchange is providing subsidies,
00:37including cash assistance and food packages for families.
00:41It's an early response, but next year we have a system to address all of this.
00:48It is a learning curve, and we're glad to have an immediate and speedy action
00:55because of timely coordination between the municipal government and the provincial government and us.
01:05It is the start of a deeper partnership.
01:09But fishers are also finding other workarounds.
01:13Here in Lawak, fishers have been barred from going out to the sea due to the higher military activity.
01:18So they told us they are now using these shoreline fishing nets as an alternative while the exercises go on.
01:25Elsewhere in the area, many residents support the drills.
01:32The Philippines is currently facing security challenges.
01:35Our capabilities are still limited, so support from the United States is important.
01:39If war breaks out, it would not be good, so it's better that we work together.
01:44Balikatan is very good also for me because, you know, if you have the trainings to give to the people
01:51here in Lawak City,
01:54I think they are very helpful to them.
01:57They gain their knowledge and they can apply to them daily lives.
02:02Seven countries are participating in Balikatan this year, with 17 more joining as observers.
02:08While some say that highlights growing international cooperation,
02:13others feel it exposes the Philippines' reliance on foreign powers.
02:18We feel that this is trampling upon the national sovereignty of the Philippines
02:22when foreign powers such as the U.S., Japan and its other Western allies
02:30are making a theater of the Philippines for the war that it is launching in Asia Pacific and elsewhere.
02:38The largest ever Balikatan exercises are set to wrap up on Friday.
02:43But here in Lawak, a seafaring community is still weighing the demands of security
02:49against the cost to their livelihoods.
02:51Fu Hua Hong, David Santos and Ellen Lu for Taiwan Plus.
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