Breaking News, World News and Taiwan News.

Updated Saturday, June 25, 2011 11:40 pm TWN, Reuters

Sponsors
▪	Get the best deals for Guangzhou Hotels or choose from more than 10,000 hotels in 499 Chinese cities.
▪	Find great real time deals on China Flights. Book flights to China or China domestic flights 24/7.
▪	Buy china wholesale products from reliable chinese wholesalers on DHgate.com!
▪	Save 75% for all hotels in Shanghai, Beijing and whole China. Lowest rates for Flights in China.

Philippines, US to hold drill at sea

MANILA -- The United States and the Philippines will begin 11 days of maritime security exercises near disputed waters in the South China Sea next week, with the Philippines buoyed by a renewed U.S. pledge of support in boosting its military capabilities.

Lieutenant Noel Cadigal of the Philippine navy said two U.S. guided missile destroyers and a salvage ship would join four Philippine gunboats for gunnery, patrol and interdiction drills off the southern tip of Palawan island.

“We will also hold anti-piracy and anti-smuggling exercises and test the interoperability and readiness of the two navies in responding to various scenarios, such as security, disaster and humanitarian assistance,” Cadigal said.

Tension has risen sharply in the South China Sea, which the Philippines calls the West Philippine Sea, in recent months on concern China is becoming more assertive in its claim to the disputed waters believed to be rich in oil and natural gas.

The Philippines says there have been nine intrusions by China since February in its territorial waters off Palawan. It has said the location of the drills was chosen some time ago and is not related to the current tension.

Next week's drills, known as Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training (CARAT), are among dozens of military activities the two nations carry out annually under a 1951 Mutual Defense Treaty.

Subscribe to The China Post and save 25%. Click here