U.S. claims its military exercises with the Philippines are purely defensive and focused on readiness

U.S.-Philippine military exercises have a long history and are described as “purely defensive,” aimed at ensuring military preparedness and safeguarding regional security, according to a spokesperson from the U.S. State Department on Saturday.

This statement came in response to an email inquiry following China‘s defense ministry’s call on Manila to remove U.S. “Typhon” intermediate-range missiles.

The spokesperson emphasized that the temporary positioning of U.S. missile systems in the Philippines is a reaction to increasing threats, designed to uphold military readiness and contribute to the overall security and stability of the region.