U.S. and Philippine Marines, along with Australian and New Zealand soldiers, staged a counterlanding drill on the island of Palawan in the Philippines.
The troops, part of the annual Balikatan exercise, faced an imagined enemy attempting to land from the South China Sea, a disputed maritime thoroughfare.
The drill showcased the combined capabilities of the U.S. and Philippine militaries, with the U.S. sending about 10,000 service members and Japan participating for the first time.
The exercise's military planners said the maneuvers weren't aimed at any one nation, but the missiles, drone and counterdrone systems involved would be crucial in any conflict with China.
Beijing has denounced the multilateral exercises as groundless provocation, but the Philippines and other nations see the drills as a way to maintain freedom of navigation and deter Chinese aggression.
The U.S. and its allies are seeking to strengthen their military cooperation in the face of China's growing military and territorial ambitions.
