Massive Military Drills in South China Sea

0:00Australia is jumping into the biggest Belichitan military drill ever, teaming up with the Philippines, United States, and Japan right in the South China. See, over 17,000 troops from these nations and others are hitting remote Philippine islands like Ibyat for intense training under real-world conditions. This annual shoulder-to-shoulder exercise runs through May 8. For the first time, Japan sending 1,400 troops haven't done that since World War II ended, and Canada, France, and New Zealand are. Joining with their forces, too, expect live-fire action across South China Sea Waters and near the Taiwan Strait, using heavy gear like the U.S. Typhoon missile system and Japan's type, 88 cruise missiles to sink old targets. China's firing back hard, calling it playing with fire, and saying the region does a need outside forces, stirring up trouble. They warn it'll just breed division and confrontation in the Asia Pacific. Philippine leaders stress, it's all about upholding international law,

1:02respecting sovereignty, and prepping for disasters or threats without targeting. Anyone? U.S. officials doubled down on their rock solid commitment to the Philippines amid global distractions. These drills highlight Manila's expanding alliances as tensions simmer around Taiwan, just 200 kilometers from some sites, and underscore how A, conflict there could pull neighbors right into the fray. That's your update from Sydney News Today. Powered by AI. I'm Corey with the story.