Thousands of allied American and Filipino forces have opened annual combat drills that will include simulating the defense of the Philippine archipelago and seas in a battle scenario that has antagonized China.

More than 14,000 Filipino and American soldiers kicked off annual military exercises on Monday for a "full battle test" between the two defence treaty allies in the face of regional security concerns,

The US and the Philippines kicked off their flagship annual military drills Monday, touted as a “rehearsal” for Manila’s defense amid ongoing tensions with China.