US, Philippines hold drills near South China Sea
US naval personnel pull the mooring line of the guided-missile destroyer USS Chung Hoon before a US-Philippine joint naval military exercise near the South China Sea on Tuesday. Noel Celis / Agence France-Presse |
Beijing - The Philippines and the United States launched regular naval exercises on Tuesday close to the South China Sea, showcasing the US' high-profile military presence in the region at a sensitive time, experts said.
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