US-Philippines Record Military Drills

The annual exercises began on a remote Philippine island near Taiwan and will feature maritime strike drills and real-world combat simulations.

While Washington remains focused on the war in Iran, the drills underscore a commitment to countering China's growing assertiveness in the South China Sea.

Protesters in Manila burned an effigy of President Trump, warning that the exercises could draw the Philippines into a broader conflict.

China has criticized the cooperation, stating it undermines regional trust and deepens divisions.