Philippines, U.S. kick off largest-ever joint military drills amid criticism

STORY: Philippines, U.S. kick off largest-ever joint military drills amid criticism SHOOTING TIME: April 22, 2024 DATELINE: April 22, 2024 LENGTH: 0:02:09 LOCATION: Manila CATEGORY: POLITICS/MILITARY SHOTLIST: 1. various of the opening ceremony 2. various of the protest 3. SOUNDBITE (English): ANNA MALINDOG-UY, Vice president of the Asian Century Philippines Strategic Studies Institute STORY: More than 16,700 Philippine and U.S. troops started their largest-ever annual joint military drills on Monday amid criticisms that the drills threaten regional peace and stability. According to the Philippine military, the 19-day exercises, dubbed "Balikatan 2024," will involve around 5,000 Philippine and 11,000 U.S. troops, making it the largest iteration of the Philippines-U.S. joint drills conducted in decades. Contingents from the Australian Defense Force and, for the first time in Balikatan's history, the French Navy will also join the exercise as participants. A total of 14 nations, including Japan and In