US, Australian and Philippine forces sink a ship during war drills in the disputed South China Sea

Philippine Army fires ATMOS 155mm howitzers during a joint military exercise on May 8, 2024, in Laoag, Ilocos Norte, northern Philippines. - AP

LAOAG, Philippines: Military force from the United States, Australian and the Philippines launched a barrage of high-precision rockets, artillery fire and airstrikes to sink a ship Wednesday (May 8) as part of largescale war drills in waters facing the disputed South China Sea that have antagonised Beijing.

Military officials and diplomats from several countries, along with journalists, watched the display of firepower from a hilltop along a sandy coast in Laoag City on Wednesday in Ilocos Norte, Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr’s northern home province.