Manila - Approximately 700 US sailors and marines and 300 Philippine soldiers are now on their third day training together in maritime surveillance and interdiction operations, amphibious assault, and naval artillery operations, in areas not to far from disputed territories in the South China Sea.

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The bilateral exercise is one of a series of "Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training or CARAT" exercises that the US conducts with naval forces from nine partners South and Southeast Asia - Bangladesh, Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Timor-Leste.

The Malaysian CARAT series is currently on its closing phases, with most of the field exercises located in the eastern coast of the Malay Peninsula.

Lieutenant Junior Grade Rommel Rodriguez, spokesman of the Philippine Fleet, said two surface vessels of the Philippine Navy are taking part in the exercise, along with a light patrol aircraft, special-warfare units from the navy and marines, and Seabees (from "CB" or construction brigade under the navy) units that will construct engineering projects in far-flung villages in the western part of Luzon Island.

Three US warships are deployed in the area as part of the exercise.

Rodriguez clarified that CARAT 2014 does not have anything to do with the ongoing maritime dispute with China in the region, since the exercise has been conducted yearly even before the recent territorial issues came to light.

The US Embassy in Manila likewise clarified the exercise is meant to promote maritime cooperation with several participating navies, and is not in response to current events.

CARAT's Philippine phase ends on Monday. 

TagsCARAT 2014