Philippines, US begin joint naval drills amid south China sea tensions
The US military has begun a two-week joint exercise with the Philippines and other international partners. The exercises, called Maritime Training Activity Sama Sama 2023, aim to address various threats including territorial disputes in the South China Sea. The event involves over 1,800 personnel from countries such as Australia, Canada, France, Japan, Malaysia, the UK, and the US. The exercises will take place in the Philippine Naval Forces Southern Luzon area and are scheduled to continue until October 13th.