US cancels live fire exercises in the Philippines

The US Army has announced that it will not conduct live-fire exercises with the Typhon missile system in the Philippines. This system has drawn criticism from China. Jeffrey VanAntwerp, a US Army official, made the statement last week. This announcement comes as US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth prepares to visit Manila this week. His visit aims to strengthen security ties with the Philippines, which is an important US ally. After Manila, Hegseth will also travel to Japan. During the same period, President Donald Trump expressed that the US does not seek war with China. However, he emphasized that the American military is ready for any potential conflict. He stated, “We’re very well-equipped to handle it,” while speaking from the Oval Office.