Philippines and US hold live-fire exercises focused on territorial defence

US troops prepare their equipment before a squad live fire exercise with Philippine troops at the three-week joint military drills "Salaknib" in Fort Magsaysay, Nueva Ecija, Philippines, March 31, 2023. - Reuters

FORT MAGSAYSAY, Philippines, April 1 (Reuters): Philippine troops staged live-fire exercises with their US counterparts in the South-East Asian country's largest military camp as part of army-to-army drills aimed at enhancing Manila's defence capabilities against external threats.

The drills come after President Ferdinand Marcos Jr's decision in February to expand the United States' access to his country's military bases - a move that has infuriated China, which accuses Washington of stoking tensions in the region.