Philippines, US launch largest-ever joint military drillsbr br The Philippines and the United States hold an opening ceremony in Manila for their largest-ever joint military exercises, as the longstanding allies seek to counter growing Chinese assertiveness in the region.br br Nearly 18,000 troops are taking part in the annual exercises dubbed Balikatan, or "shoulder to shoulder" in Filipino, which for the first time will include a live-fire drill in the South China Sea, which Beijing claims almost entirely.