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.
