Philippines, US hold biggest military exercises in seven years

The Philippines and the United States today kicked off their biggest joint military drills since 2015, underscoring improved defence ties after President Rodrigo Duterte had scaled back some earlier war games to pursue warmer ties with China.

The annual "Balikatan" (shoulder-to-shoulder) exercises involve 8,900 troops this year and will include live-fire exercises and training with amphibious assault vehicles...