US and Philippines showcase military might in joint drills, China issues warning.

The US and the Philippines conducted combat drills as part of their joint military exercises called Balikatan, which involve about 17,600 military personnel. The drills included live-fire maneuvers, such as a ship-sinking rocket attack and beach assaults to simulate retaking an island near the disputed South China Sea. The exercises have alarmed China, which has warned that they should not harm its security and territorial interests or interfere in territorial disputes in the South China Sea.