The U.S. and Philippines militaries launched their largest-ever joint drills on Tuesday. The scheduled exercises begin a day after China completed a series of military exercises around Taiwan.
- Over 17,600 military personnel are taking part in the bilateral exercises that will run through April 28.
- The
training program, known as the Balikatan operation, will involve the
destruction of a mockup warship in the South China Sea.
- A spokesperson for the Chinese Foreign Ministry said on Monday that "U.S.-Philippines military cooperation must not interfere in South China Sea disputes."
- China concluded a round of military drills on Monday that began after Taiwan's president Tsai Ing-wen met with U.S. Speaker Kevin McCarthy last week, in defiance of Beijing's warnings.
- During the exercises, the U.S. sent a warship near the Spratly Islands, a disputed territory claimed by the Philippines, China, Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, Taiwan, and Vietnam.
- The U.S. and the Philippines established a new defense agreement in February that will see American forces gain increased access to military bases in the Philippines.
