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Philippine and US soldiers march with their national flags during the opening ceremony of the annual joint 11-day Balikatan (Shoulder-to-Shoulder) military exercise in Manila. Photo: AFP

Expanded US-Philippine war games begin as China warns of 'outsiders' in territorial sea row

Australia joins annual large-scale joint drills for the first time as the defence forces of Japan and eight other countries take part as observers

US and Philippine troops began major exercises on Monday as China’s state media warned “outsiders” against interfering in tense South China Sea territorial disputes.

The official Xinhua news agency gave the warning as Manila and Washington launched the 11-day Balikatan (Shoulder-to-Shoulder) exercises with a low-key opening ceremony in Manila.

US Defence Secretary Ash Carter is to fly to the Philippines next week to observe live-firing of artillery and visit US Navy ships taking part.

Some 5,000 US troops are taking part along with nearly 4,000 Philippine soldiers and 80 from Australia. Observer forces are from Japan, Brunei, Canada, Malaysia, New Zealand, South Korea, Thailand, East Timor, and Vietnam, according to Philippine military chief Hernando Iriberri. Australia has in the past taken part as an observer.

“The... exercises caps Manila’s recent attempts to involve outsiders in (a) regional row,” China’s official news agency Xinhua said in a commentary.

A US soldier instructs his counterparts from the Philippine military during the annual 2015 war games. File photo: Reuters

“However, a provocation so fear-mongering and untimely as such is likely to boomerang on the initiators,” Xinhua added.

“A big country with vital interests in Asia, the United States should first clarify the targets of its Pivot to Asia strategy, which so far has featured no more than unscrupulous inconsistency between fear-mongering deeds and peace-loving words.”

China lays claim to almost all of the South China Sea, despite partial counter-claims by Brunei, Malaysia, Taiwan, Vietnam and the Philippines.

A shipyard worker walks past three Australian military Landing Craft Heavy (LCH) vessels docked at a port in Cebu City. A small contingent of Australian troops will join the exercises for the first time. Photo: EPA

In recent years it has built major structures including radar systems and airstrips over reclaimed reefs and outcrops, sparking international concern it could impose military controls over the entire area.

Troops this year will simulate retaking an oil-and-gas platform and practice an amphibious landing on a Philippine beach.

US forces will for the first time in the Philippine exercises fire a long-range truck-mounted multiple-rocket launcher known as the high mobility artillery rocket system (HIMARS).

“The Balikatan exercise is designed not to address a particular concern but the whole lump in the spectrum of warfare,” Vice Admiral Alexander Lopez, the Philippine military’s exercise director, said

“China is not part of the idea.”

The US has said it does not take sides in the territorial disputes but has asserted the importance of keeping sea and air routes open.

Protesters rally near the US Embassy to coincide with the start of the annual joint military exercise. Photo: AP

It has sent US bombers and warships on patrol close to the Chinese construction activity in recent months, infuriating Beijing.

Lieutenant-General John Toolan, commander of US Marine Corps forces in the Pacific, told reporters in Manila the exercises would help the allies improve maritime security and maintain regional stability.

“Our alliance is strong. The United States is committed to this relationship and these are not empty words.... peace in Southeast Asia depends on our cooperation,” Toolan added.

The exercises come ahead of a decision this year by a United Nations-backed tribunal on a legal challenge by Manila to China’s territorial claims.

The Philippines is also preparing to host US troops at five bases under a defence pact born out of US President Barack Obama’s plan to reassert American influence in the Pacific.

Additional reporting by Reuters and Kyodo

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