Over 17,000 soldiers will take part in the largest ever US-Philippine joint exercises that aim to challenge China's presence in the Asia-Pacific, Reuters reported on Tuesday.

The drills that kicked off on Tuesday, dubbed  'Balikatan' or 'shoulder-to-shoulder' exercises, are a sign of warmer and more developed ties between the two countries, especially after Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr came to power and decided to focus on China in the region.

For the first time in the history of their relations, they will launch a live-shooting drill in the ocean to train on collaborative naval missions and sharing of military maritime tactics.

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"The highlight of the exercise will be the combined joint littoral live-fire exercise, which aims to rehearse joint and combined tactics techniques and procedures to execute maritime strike," Major General Marvin Licudine, Philippines exercise chief, said at the opening ceremony.

Chinese Foreign Ministry criticized Monday the military drills, saying they "must not interfere in South China Sea disputes, still less harm China's territorial sovereignty, maritime rights and interests and security interests."

Earlier this month, Manila announced that it will grant the US four more military bases on its soil, two of which will be close to Taiwan and one will be near the South China Sea, in an effort to offset alleged Chinese "increasing assertiveness toward Taiwan" and its construction of bases in the South China Sea, vowing yesterday not allow "any offensive actions" from the bases it has made available to US forces. 

The 2014 Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement, known as EDCA, provided the US forces access to five bases in the Philippines, which was now increased to nine. The agreement permits the rotation of US soldiers through the bases as well as the storage of defense supplies and equipment there.

Under former President Rodrigo Duterte, the agreement came to a standstill. However, President Ferdinand Marcos, who took office in place of Duterte in June, embraced a more pro-US foreign policy and worked to hasten the EDCA's implementation.

The Balikatan exercises will ensure "we are prepared to respond to real-world challenges together," said Major General Eric Austin, US exercise director.

The allied drills come as China launched a three-day massive exercise last Saturday - Operation United Sharp Sword - encircling Taiwan in response to Taipei and Washington's increased provocation and disregard of the "one China" policy, most recently when the island's President Tsai Ing-wen and US House Speaker Kevin McCarthy met on April 6. 

Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) kicked off drills around the island of Taiwan involving air and sea patrols. The PLA's 91 military planes and 12 warships were observed approaching, according to the Taiwanese Defense Ministry on Monday. 

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The defense and foreign ministers of the United States and the Philippines are scheduled to meet in Washington this week for the first time in seven years.

The joint exercises will be carried out in different regions of the Asian country and will include training on amphibious and aviation attacks, cybersecurity, and ground urban missions, among others.

Marcos is expected to watch the live-fire drills, which will include the shooting and sinking of an outdated ship belonging to the US naval force.