US, Philippines sink mock enemy ship in their largest South China Sea drills

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr observes the joint littoral live-fire drills in the disputed South China Sea during the US-Philippines war games in Zambales, Philippines on April 26, 2023. - Courtesy of Presidential Communications Office

ZAMBALES, Philippines (The Straits TImes/Asia News Network): United States and Philippine military forces on Wednesday (April 26) fired a volley of missiles and bombs to sink an old Philippine Navy warship representing an enemy vessel in the disputed South China Sea, the highlight of the largest war games yet between the two nations.

This is the first time Manila and Washington simulated a sea attack and carried out a rocket-bombardment exercise in the disputed waterway, where the Philippines and China have competing claims.