This year’s “Balikatan” or “shoulder-to-shoulder” drills also come against the backdrop of what the Philippines calls “aggressive” Chinese actions in the South China Sea.

The drills, held from April 11 to 28, will see 17,600 participants from both sides, including around 12,000 from the US, and “live fire exercises into the water” for the first time, according to colonel Michael Logico, director of the Philippine military’s training centre and spokesman for the event.

“This is officially the largest Balikatan exercise,” Logico said.

Previously, the biggest joint drills were undertaken in 2015, with more 11,000 troops participating.

The larger-scale drills follow Marcos’ decision last month to expand the US’ access to his country’s military bases, which China says undermines regional stability.

Regarding the possibility of the joint exercises further infuriating China, Logico said, “We have the absolute, inalienable right to defend our territory. We are here to show that we are combat ready.”

The Balikatan exercises are to be carried out across several provinces, including Palawan, which is near the South China Sea.

They will also see some 111 participants from the Australian defence force, though their participation will be limited to “smaller land-based exercises”, Logico said.