US and Philippines hold largest military exercises after China drills

US Marine Corps Major General Eric Austin and Philippine Army Major General Marvin Licudin launched the exercise (Aaron Favila/AP)

The United States and the Philippines are holding their largest combat exercises in decades, including a boat-sinking rocket assault in waters across the South China Sea and the Taiwan Strait that is likely to infuriate China.

The annual drills called Balikatan, meaning shoulder to shoulder, will run up to April 28 and involve more than 17,600 military personnel.