A Filipino "comfort women" activist has expressed strong opposition to Japan's participation in the 2026 "Balikatan" exercises, which began on Monday in Manila.

The drills involve forces from the Philippines, the United States, Japan, Australia, Canada, France and New Zealand and have drawn criticism from activist groups, reviving debate over the presence of foreign troops in the country.

According to Kyodo News, Japan is sending 1,400 personnel, its largest contingent ever, to the exercises, along with three ships and two aircraft. This marks the first full participation of Japan's Self-Defense Forces (SDF) in the exercises since World War II. The SDF plans to test-fire a Type-88 guided missile during the drills.

Data show that more than 1,000 Filipino women, referred to as "comfort women" during Japan's wartime occupation, were forced into sexual slavery. Only a few survivors remain today, most of them frail, impoverished and in their 90s. Their plight has kept alive demands for justice and an apology, and advocacy groups, including Lila Pilipina, say Japan's military participation in the Philippines is unacceptable until those wartime issues are fully addressed.

The Balikatan drills, involving more than 17,000 troops, will run through May 8. The exercises come as the Philippines declared a national energy emergency in late March amid the Middle East conflict. At home, critics have slammed the government for permitting US military presence while urging greater focus on economic recovery and improving livelihoods.