US, Philippines seek to return to full military drills in 2022

File photo of Philippine and US marines during a beach raid simulation as part of their joint military exercise at village in Puerto Princesa, Palawan island, south of Manila in 2012. - AFP

MANILA (Bloomberg): The US and the Philippines are planning to return to full-scale military drills in 2022 after two years and will invite Australia and the UK as observers, in another sign of the Biden administration’s push to deepen ties in the Indo-Pacific and counter China’s assertiveness.

America wants "to increase the complexity and scope” of its military exercises with the Philippines, and plans to invite new partners to join the drills, Admiral John Aquilino, the US Indo-Pacific Command chief, said at a briefing in Manila.