US, Philippines start two weeks of war games
Source: Agencies |
October 18, 2011, Tuesday
|
Print Edition
Print Edition
ABOUT 3,000 US and Filipino marines started two weeks of annual military drills in the Philippines yesterday that will include a beach assault exercise near China's Nansha Islands in the South China Sea.
US Marine 1st Lieutenant Nick Eisenbeiser said the maneuvers would focus on honing their joint capability to ensure regional security and were not aimed at China or any country as an imaginary target.
"They shouldn't get worried," Eisenbeiser told reporters when asked if the exercises were aimed at China. "We're assisting the Chinese in ensuring that their region is peaceful."
The exercises would ensure that US and Philippine forces could jointly respond to "anything that arises," he said.
The United States irked China last year by asserting that Washington had a national security interest in the peaceful resolution of disputes over the islands in the South China Sea.
China seeks to resolve the disputes through bilateral talks with five other claimants, including the Philippines. China has rejected any US role in the resolution of the disputes over the islands.
Philippine military spokeswoman 1st Lieutenant Cherryl Tindog said an October 27 drill will involve a mock raid by about 100 US and Filipino marines from an American warship to capture a hostile beachhead west of Palawan Province, which faces the South China Sea.
Other events include a live-fire exercise in Crow Valley in Tarlac Province and medical missions and school constructions in several towns.
Philippine marine spokesman Eugenio Clemen said the exercises with US forces would be confined to the country's territory so "nobody could question that."
US Marine 1st Lieutenant Nick Eisenbeiser said the maneuvers would focus on honing their joint capability to ensure regional security and were not aimed at China or any country as an imaginary target.
"They shouldn't get worried," Eisenbeiser told reporters when asked if the exercises were aimed at China. "We're assisting the Chinese in ensuring that their region is peaceful."
The exercises would ensure that US and Philippine forces could jointly respond to "anything that arises," he said.
The United States irked China last year by asserting that Washington had a national security interest in the peaceful resolution of disputes over the islands in the South China Sea.
China seeks to resolve the disputes through bilateral talks with five other claimants, including the Philippines. China has rejected any US role in the resolution of the disputes over the islands.
Philippine military spokeswoman 1st Lieutenant Cherryl Tindog said an October 27 drill will involve a mock raid by about 100 US and Filipino marines from an American warship to capture a hostile beachhead west of Palawan Province, which faces the South China Sea.
Other events include a live-fire exercise in Crow Valley in Tarlac Province and medical missions and school constructions in several towns.
Philippine marine spokesman Eugenio Clemen said the exercises with US forces would be confined to the country's territory so "nobody could question that."
- About Us
- |
- Terms of Use
- |
-
RSS - |
- Privacy Policy
- |
- Contact Us
- |
- Shanghai Call Center: 962288
- |
- Tip-off hotline: 52920043
- 沪ICP证：沪ICP备05050403号-1
- |
- 互联网新闻信息服务许可证：31120180004
- |
- 网络视听许可证：0909346
- |
- 广播电视节目制作许可证：沪字第354号
- |
- 增值电信业务经营许可证：沪B2-20120012
Copyright © 1999- Shanghai Daily. All rights reserved.Preferably viewed with Internet Explorer 8 or newer browsers.
