More than 17,000 Philippine and US soldiers began their largest ever joint military drills, as ties between the long-term allies warm over shared concerns about China's assertiveness in the Asia-Pacific region
The expanded annual exercises underscore improved defence ties under President Ferdinand Marcos Jr after his predecessor scaled back drills to pursue closer ties with Beijing.
"The highlight of the exercise will be the combined joint littoral live-fire exercise, which aims to rehearse joint and combined tactics techniques and procedures to execute maritime strike," Major General Marvin Licudine, Philippines exercise director, said in a speech at the opening ceremony. Beijing views Taiwan as its own territory, while the democratically governed island rejects its claims.
U.S.-Philippines relations have warmed considerably under President Marcos, who in February granted WashingtonThe countries' defence and foreign ministers are due to meet for the first time in seven years in Washington this week.
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