War Games Near Flashpoint Reef

 A US destroyer joined the Philippine Navy’s flagship for war games that started Thursday close to a flashpoint area of the South China Sea, adding to tensions with China over rival territorial claims.

PHILIPPINES, US IN WAR GAMES NEAR CHINA FLASHPOINT REEF

MANILA (AFP) – A US destroyer joined the Philippine Navy’s flagship for war games that started Thursday close to a flashpoint area of the South China Sea, adding to tensions with China over rival territorial claims.

The exercises are a boost for the Philippines’ poorly equipped military as it struggles with perceived rising Chinese aggression, and follows repeated pleas to longtime ally the United States for protection.

“The goal of these exercises is to further boost cooperation… between the two armed forces and further streamline responses to counter-terrorism and maritime security,” deputy presidential spokeswoman Abigail Valte told AFP.

The six-day exercises are an annual event but this year they were planned for the west coast of the Philippines’ main island of Luzon, close to Scarborough Shoal which China insists it owns.

The shoal is a tiny set of rocks and islets in the South China Sea 230 kilometres (140 miles) east of Luzon and 1,200 kilometres from the nearest major Chinese landmass.

China claims nearly all of the strategically vital South China Sea, even waters close to the shores of its smaller neighbours.

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Source: 7 News.