The United States and the Philippines have concluded their largest-ever Balikatan ("Shoulder-to-Shoulder") joint military exercises, drawing more than 17,000 troops from six countries, with critics warning the drills are transforming the Philippine archipelago into a launchpad for potential conflict with China. Ilocos Norte province — a strategically located region on the Philippines' northwestern tip, just 345km from Taiwan — has become a focal point for the exercises and hosts US Typhon missile systems capable of striking regional targets, raising alarm among local residents, activist groups, and independent analysts. Opponents, including the coalition Bayan and academics from Philippine universities, argue the US military buildup increases the risk of the Philippines becoming a target for Washington's adversaries, drawing a parallel to American military bases in Gulf states that have come under attack amid the ongoing US-Iran conflict.