Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos (centre) accompanied by a US soldier inspects a high mobility artillery rocket system (HIMARS) prior to a live fire exercise as part of the US-Philippines Balikatan joint exercise at the naval training base in San Antonio, Zambales province on Apr 26, 2023. (Photo: AFP/Ted Aljibe)
Reuters: U.S., Philippine forces sink mock enemy warship in their biggest war games yet
SAN ANTONIO, Philippines (Reuters) - U.S. and Philippine armed forces unleashed a volley of missiles on a mock enemy warship in the South China Sea on Wednesday, in a show of military power and a strengthening alliance at a time of rising regional tension.
Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr watched from a four-storey tower as a high mobility artillery rocket system (HIMARS) fired rockets at a decommissioned navy corvette in the waters just a few miles off its western province of Zambales.
It was the first time the annual U.S.-Philippines "Balikatan" exercises featured live fire drills at sea, at a location just a few hours by boat from one of the world's most contested maritime features, the Scarborough Shoal, which China has occupied for more than a decade.
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U.S., Filipino Troops Sink Decommissioned Warship During War Exercises
U.S., Filipino Troops Sink Decommissioned Warship in A First for Balikatan Exercise -- USNI News
Facing China, the Philippines and U.S. Join in Biggest Military Drill Yet -- New York Times
US, Filipino forces show firepower at sea amid China tension -- AP
US and Philippine forces fire on mock enemy warship in South China Sea military exercise -- CNN
US, Philippine troops fire rockets at ship in their largest drills -- CNA/AFP
PH, US sink target ship in Balikatan exercise off Zambales -- GMA