"US and Philippines Conduct Largest-Ever Joint Drills Near Disputed Waters"

The US and the Philippines have launched their largest combat exercises in decades, involving more than 17,600 military personnel, including live-fire drills, in waters across the South China Sea and the Taiwan Strait. The exercises, called Balikatan, will run up to April 28 and will showcase America's warships, fighter jets, Patriot missiles, HIMARS rocket launchers, and anti-tank Javelins. The move is part of the Biden administration's efforts to strengthen alliances in the Indo-Pacific to counter China's increasingly aggressive actions in the disputed sea channel and against Taiwan.