The US is deploying a dozen of F/A – 18 squadrons to the Philippines
this week to take part in annual military drills with the South East
Asia close security ally.
In a statement on April 4,
the spokesperson of Filipino defence ministry, Major Emmanuel Garcia
said the presence of the jet fighters has nothing to do with the rising
tensions in Korean Peninsula, and that the exercises were planned more
than a year ago.
As many as 8,000 American and
Filipino troops will take part in the joint maneuvers to train in mimic
battles and disaster relief operations.
The US
will also send USS Tortuga dock landing ship and 14 other jet fighters
to the Philippines , while this country will deploy at least 10
aircraft and 2 warships to the 12-day exercises.
The
war game is considered a test to the two allies’ joint defence plans
based on the Mutual Defence Treaty. The US is maintaining similar
arrangements with the Republic of Korea , Japan , Singapore
and Australia.-VNA