US, Philippines continue their joint war games
Iran Press TV
Sun May 11, 2014 4:36PM GMT
The US and Philippines troops execute a mock boat raid assaults near a military camp in Cavite province, south of Manila. The assaults are part of 10-day joint exercises between the two countries that have begun on May 5.
Some 5,500 US and Philippine troops are currently engaged in the joint war games in the Philippines, codenamed "Balikatan" meaning shoulder-to-shoulder. Balikatan's main focus is Maritime drills.
The drills come as tensions simmer between the Philippines and China over territorial disputes in the South China Sea.
The Philippines has recently signed a 10-year pact with the US which allows greater access to American warships, planes and troops to bases in the Southeast Asian country.
The US military presence in the Philippines has been a frequent source of tension between the countries.
On Friday, China's foreign ministry slammed the US for stoking tensions in the disputed South China Sea by encouraging countries to engage in dangerous behavior.
Chinese foreign ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying said that "It must be pointed out that the recent series of irresponsible and wrong comments from the United States which neglect the facts about the relevant waters have encouraged certain countries' dangerous and provocative behavior."
She urged Washington to "act and speak cautiously on the relevant issue, stop making irresponsible remarks and do more to maintain regional peace and stability."
The East and South China Seas are the scene of escalating territorial disputes involving both island and maritime claims between China and Japan, Vietnam, Taiwan, the Philippines, Malaysia, Indonesia and Brunei.
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