War games begin as the Philippines and US forces start war drills in region facing Taiwan

Philippine and U.S. soldiers salute while national anthems are being played, during the opening ceremony of Balikatan joint military exercise, at Camp Aguinaldo in Quezon City, Metro Manila, Philippines, March 28, 2022. - Reuters

MANILA, March 28 (AP): Thousands of American and Filipino forces began on Monday one of their largest combat exercises in years that will include live-fire maneuvers, aircraft assaults, urban warfare and beach landings in a showcase of US firepower in the northern Philippines near the sea border with Taiwan.

he annual exercises, called Balikatan - Tagalog for shoulder-to-shoulder - will run up to April 8 with nearly 9,000 troops, navy, marines, air force and army troops, including 5,100 American military personnel, to strengthen the longtime treaty allies’ "capabilities and readiness for real-world challenges,” US and Philippine military officials said.