US-China relations have witnessed significant tension over the past few years, due to China's increasing influence in the South China Sea and the world.

The Philippine and American forces also intend to sink a target ship, reclaim an island, and sail in waters facing the South China Sea, during joint military exercises scheduled to begin next week amid maritime tensions with Beijing.

The "Bloomberg" news agency quoted Colonel Michael Logico, one of the organizers, saying to foreign reporters in Manila today, Wednesday, that the exercises "will demonstrate our combat readiness and highlight the interoperability of the US and Philippine armed forces."

The main maneuvers are set to take place in Philippine areas near Taiwan and the South China Sea, where Manila and Beijing are increasingly embroiled in a tense territorial dispute.

Colonel Logico stated that the maneuvers are not directed at China.