US, Filipino forces start war drills in region facing Taiwan


              Philippines Military Chief of Staff General Andres Centino speaks to reporters during opening ceremonies of the "Balikatan" or "Shoulder to Shoulder" joint military exercises at Camp Aguinaldo, Quezon City, Philippines on Monday, March 28, 2022. Thousands of American and Filipino forces opened on Monday one of their largest combat exercises in years that will include live-fire training, urban assaults, amphibious landing and coastal defense in the northern Philippine region near its sea border with Taiwan. (AP Photo/Aaron Favila)
            
              Philippines Military Chief of Staff General Andres Centino of the Philippine Army speaks during opening ceremonies of the "Balikatan" or "Shoulder to Shoulder" joint military exercises at Camp Aguinaldo, Quezon City, Philippines on Monday, March 28, 2022. Thousands of American and Filipino forces opened on Monday one of their largest combat exercises in years that will include live-fire training, urban assaults, amphibious landing and coastal defense in the northern Philippine region near its sea border with Taiwan. (AP Photo/Aaron Favila)
            Philippines Exercise Director Major Gen. Charlton Sean Gaerlan of the Philippine Navy, left, and U.S. Exercise Director Major Gen. Jay Bargeron, right, of the U.S. Marine Corps shakes hands as U.S. Charge d'Affairs Heather Variava, center, looks on during opening ceremonies of the "Balikatan" or "Shoulder to Shoulder" joint military exercises at Camp Aguinaldo, Quezon City, Philippines on Monday, March 28, 2022. Thousands of American and Filipino forces opened on Monday one of their largest combat exercises in years that will include live-fire training, urban assaults, amphibious landing and coastal defense in the northern Philippine region near its sea border with Taiwan. (AP Photo/Aaron Favila) Philippine and U.S. soldiers salute to their flags as the national anthem is played during opening ceremonies of the "Balikatan" or "Shoulder to Shoulder" joint military exercises at Camp Aguinaldo, Quezon City, Philippines on Monday, March 28, 2022. Thousands of American and Filipino forces opened on Monday one of their largest combat exercises in years that will include live-fire training, urban assaults, amphibious landing and coastal defense in the northern Philippine region near its sea border with Taiwan. (AP Photo/Aaron Favila) Philippine and U.S. soldiers salute to their flags as the national anthem is played during opening ceremonies of the "Balikatan" or "Shoulder to Shoulder" joint military exercises at Camp Aguinaldo, Quezon City, Philippines on Monday, March 28, 2022. Thousands of American and Filipino forces opened on Monday one of their largest combat exercises in years that will include live-fire training, urban assaults, amphibious landing and coastal defense in the northern Philippine region near its sea border with Taiwan. (AP Photo/Aaron Favila) Philippine and U.S. soldiers salute to their flags as the national anthem is played during opening ceremonies of the "Balikatan" or "Shoulder to Shoulder" joint military exercises at Camp Aguinaldo, Quezon City, Philippines on Monday, March 28, 2022. Thousands of American and Filipino forces opened on Monday one of their largest combat exercises in years that will include live-fire training, urban assaults, amphibious landing and coastal defense in the northern Philippine region near its sea border with Taiwan. (AP Photo/Aaron Favila) From left, U.S. Charge d'Affairs Heather Variava, National Defense Undersecretary Cardozo M. Luna and U.S. Exercise Director Major General Jay Bargeron of the US Marine Corps prepare to pose for a photo during opening ceremonies of the "Balikatan" or "Shoulder to Shoulder" joint military exercises at Camp Aguinaldo, Quezon City, Philippines on Monday, March 28, 2022. Thousands of American and Filipino forces opened on Monday one of their largest combat exercises in years that will include live-fire training, urban assaults, amphibious landing and coastal defense in the northern Philippine region near its sea border with Taiwan. (AP Photo/Aaron Favila) Philippines Military Chief of Staff General Andres Centino, second from left, salutes beside U.S. Charge d'Affairs Heather Variava, center, as the national anthem is played during opening ceremonies of the "Balikatan" or "Shoulder to Shoulder" joint military exercises at Camp Aguinaldo, Quezon City, Philippines on Monday, March 28, 2022. Thousands of American and Filipino forces opened on Monday one of their largest combat exercises in years that will include live-fire training, urban assaults, amphibious landing and coastal defense in the northern Philippine region near its sea border with Taiwan. (AP Photo/Aaron Favila) U.S. Exercise Director Major General Jay Bargeron, right, of the U.S. Marine Corps speaks during opening ceremonies of the "Balikatan" or "Shoulder to Shoulder" joint military exercises at Camp Aguinaldo, Quezon City, Philippines on Monday, March 28, 2022. Thousands of American and Filipino forces opened on Monday one of their largest combat exercises in years that will include live-fire training, urban assaults, amphibious landing and coastal defense in the northern Philippine region near its sea border with Taiwan. (AP Photo/Aaron Favila) Philippines Exercise Director Major Gen. Charlton Sean Gaerlan of the Philippine Navy, left, and U.S. Exercise Director Major Gen. Jay Bargeron, center, of the U.S. Marine Corps unfurls the "Balikatan" or "Shoulder to Shoulder" flag during opening ceremonies of military exercises Camp Aguinaldo, Quezon City, Philippines on Monday, March 28, 2022. Thousands of American and Filipino forces opened on Monday one of their largest combat exercises in years that will include live-fire training, urban assaults, amphibious landing and coastal defense in the northern Philippine region near its sea border with Taiwan. (AP Photo/Aaron Favila)