US and Philippine marines hold drill near Spratlys (AP)

MANILA, Philippines ? About 3,000 U.S. and Filipino marines have started two weeks of military drills in the Philippines that will include a hostile beach assault exercise near the disputed Spratly Islands.

U.S. Marine 1st Lt. Nick Eisenbeiser said Monday that the Oct. 17-28 maneuvers would focus on honing the military allies' capability to ensure regional security and were not aiming at China or any country as an imaginary target.

Philippine military spokeswoman 1st Lt. Cherryl Tindog says an Oct. 27 drill involves a mock raid by U.S. and Filipino marines to capture a hostile beach head west of Palawan province, which faces the South China Sea.

China, the Philippines and four other Asian countries claim the Spratly islands.

Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/asia/*http%3A//news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20111017/ap_on_re_as/as_philippines_us_military

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