US, Philippines reinforce alliance with joint military drills

US and South Korean marines take their positions during a joint amphibious landing exercise at a beach facing the South China Sea in San Antonio town, Zambales province on October 7, 2022.

AFP / Ted Aljibe

SAN ANTONIO, Philippines — US and Philippine marines stormed a beach near a disputed rocky outcrop in the South China Sea on Friday as part of joint military drills involving more than 3,500 troops. 

It is the first time the annual naval exercises have been held under Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos, who has expressed strong support for the decades-old alliance, after rocky relations under his predecessor Rodrigo Duterte.

Duterte had threatened to cancel drills and axe a key military deal with the United States as he pivoted towards China.

Full Story: https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2022/10/07/2215000/us-philippines-reinforce-alliance-joint-military-drills