PH, US to hold first live-fire exercises in SCS at largest ever war games

By Agence France-Presse

Mar 14, 2023 8:43 pm

THE Philippines and the United States will hold their largest ever joint military exercises next month, Philippine and US officials said Tuesday, as the longtime allies seek to counter China's growing regional influence.

A total of 17,680 soldiers will take part in the annual drills, which for the first time will include live-fire exercises in the disputed South China Sea and a simulated defense of a tiny Philippine island nearly 300 kilometers (190 miles) south of Taiwan.

FILE - SHOULDER TO SHOULDER Nearly 9,000 Filipino and American military personnel participated in the Balikatan 2022, which is the 37th iteration of the annual bilateral exercise that started on March 28 and culminated on Friday, April 8, 2022, in Luzon. CONTRIBUTED PHOTO

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