US and Philippine forces hold combat drills to brace for crisis in South China Sea

Members of the Philippine, Japan, South Korea, and US Marine carry national flags during the opening ceremony of the joint military exercises Kamandag or the “Cooperation of the Warriors of the Sea,” at the headquarters of Philippine Marine Corps, in Taguig City, Metro Manila, Philippines, Monday, October 3, 2022. - Reuters

MANILA, Philippines (AP): More than 2,500 US and Philippine marines joined combat exercises Monday to be able to respond to any sudden crisis in a region long on tenterhooks over South China Sea territorial disputes and increasing tensions over Taiwan.

The annual military drills are some of the largest so far between the longtime treaty allies under newly elected Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. His predecessor, Rodrigo Duterte, was an outspoken critic of US security policies and frowned on military exercises with American forces he said could offend China.