US-PH holds biggest drill in response to Beijing's military aggression in theSouth China Sea

The United States and The Philippines held its biggest, month-long Balikatan (Shoulder-to-Shoulder) military exercises in April 2023, following Manila's decision to allow Washington to access more military bases across the Southeast Asian country. 

The joint-exercises involving live-ammunition, US military vessels and advanced American military drones including the MQ-9 Reaper were seen as a firm response to Beijing's aggression to bring instability to the region that has grown over the weeks and months with its increasing Chinese PLA activities and intervention in the South China Sea.