US and Filipino forces begin military manoeuvres in show of American firepower

Filipino and US senior officers unfurl a flag to launch the military exercises (AP Photo/Aaron Favila)

Thousands of American and Filipino forces began one of their largest combat exercises in years that will include live-fire manoeuvres, aircraft assaults, urban warfare and beach landings in a showcase of US firepower in the northern Philippines near its sea border with Taiwan.

The annual exercises, called Balikatan — Tagalog for shoulder-to-shoulder — will run up to April 8 with nearly 9,000 navy, marines, air force and army troops, including 5,100 American military personnel, to strengthen the long-time treaty allies’ “capabilities and readiness for real-world challenges,” US and Philippine military officials said.