U.S., Philippine forces sink mock enemy warship in their biggest war games yet

A high mobility artillery rocket system (HIMARS) is fired during a live fire exercise in the annual joint military exercises between U.S. and Philippine troops called "Balikatan" or shoulder-to-shoulder, held in San Antonio, Zambales province, Philippines, April 26, 2023. REUTERS/Eloisa Lopez

U.S. and Philippine armed forces unleashed a volley of missiles on a mock enemy warship in the South China Sea on Wednesday, in a show of military power and a strengthening alliance at a time of rising regional tension.

Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr watched from a four-storey tower as a high mobility artillery rocket system (HIMARS) fired rockets at a decommissioned navy corvette in the waters just a few miles off its western province of Zambales.