(Image Source: Wikimedia Commons )

 

BY ZAKIYYAH WAHAB

 

You're watching multisource global video news analysis from Newsy.

 

The Philippines and the U.S. began their annual military exercises Monday. RT has more.

 

“Annual military exercises are underway between the U.S. and the Philippines. They’re taking place in the western part of the country where there has been a week-long standoff between Philippine and Chinese ships in the South China Sea.”

 

The military exercises are known as Balikatan  — Tagalog for “arm in arm”. The Philippines and the U.S. may go arm in arm, but it might be the opposite for the Philippines’ relationship with China. The BBC reports...

 

“...officials in China … are more likely to feel they are being given the cold shoulder.”

 

The Philippines and China were involved in a sovereignty dispute over the Scarborough Shoal last week. To date, no agreements have been formed. China’s People’s Daily isn’t exactly happy with the West’s involvement in the dispute, saying...

 

“...some Western government officials and media ignored the fact and deliberately linked the upgrade of conflicts with the rise of China to create conflicts between China and its neighbouring countries.”

 

The Philippines denies war-related exercises are related to the current shoal disagreement. According to Gulf News , a spokesperson for the Philippine contingent involved in the war-exercises says...

 

“The US-Philippines Balikatan exercises were long planned, way before the standoff at the [shoal]... The focus (of the [exercises] is not China but) on improving security, counter terrorism … humanitarian and disaster response...”

 

Talks between the Philippines and China are still ongoing, but Channel NewsAsia doubts the dispute will be solved soon , saying --

 

“At the very least, it will take a few more generations to resolve the dispute. A more immediate task will be for countries to negotiate agreements that will allow them to jointly tap the rich resources.”

 

According to a Radyo Inquirer 990AM report , the Philippine government has stated it would not need a third party or mediator to assist in the ongoing Scarborough Shoal standoff.