PH-US war games include Japan, Australia

United States Marines wade through a creek after taking part in a joint US-Philippines amphibious landing exercise in Zambales province, in this Oct. 7, 2016 file photo. AP

MANILA – Australian and Japanese troops are joining for the second time annual Philippine-United States military exercises involving thousands of troops as the two-week drills move toward becoming multilateral war games.

The Philippines and the United States have for more than 30 editions been holding bilateral Balikatan (shoulder-to-shoulder) drills to test the readiness of their militaries to respond to threats that include natural disasters and militant extremist attacks.

The United States Embassy in Manila said in a statement that Australia and Japan, two US ally countries with strategic partnerships with the Philippines, would again be included in the exercises at multiple locations on the main island of Luzon starting May 7.

Britain has also been invited to observe training for the mitigation of post-disaster suffering.

They will focus on mutual defense, counterterrorism, humanitarian assistance and disaster relief that can also “provide assistance in the event of crises that endanger public health and safety.”

Soldiers from the Philippines, United States, Australia, and Japan have already been renovating schools in four provinces north of Manila as well as providing medical and dental services in poor rural areas, the US Embassy said.

Philippine military spokeswoman Liezl Vidallon said the four countries would exchange and share information and conduct live-fire training.

The exercises were scaled back last year in response to President Rodrigo Duterte’s disdain for the US-Philippine defense alliance.

He has made no secret of his grudge against the United States and believes a US military presence of any kind in the Philippines puts his country at risk of being dragged into conflict, especially with China, as it beefs up its maritime defenses.

The volatile leader has showered praise upon Russia and China and invited their warships to come to the Philippines for exercises, too. (Reuters)

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