US, Philippine Troops Kick Off Drills as China Tensions Mount
- ‘Balikatan’ exercises set to draw over 16,000 participants
- Intention of targeting mainland ‘very clear’: Chinese analyst
This article is for subscribers only.
US and Philippine troops will sail beyond the Southeast Asian nation’s territorial waters for the first time since the joint annual drills started three decades ago, risking further maritime tensions with Beijing.
The joint exercises will be held in multiple Philippine locations near the disputed South China Sea and Taiwan despite China’s warning that “tensions could get worse” with the activities set to run from April 22 to May 10.