China's foreign ministry says that military exercises between the United States and the Philippines "should not be targeted at, or harm, the interests of third parties", as the two allies hold war games. Thousands of troops are conducting land, sea and air manoeuvres against a backdrop of increased confrontations between Chinese and Filipino vessels around shoals in the South China Sea claimed by Manila, as well as stepped-up Chinese air and naval activity around nearby self-ruled Taiwan. IMAGES AND SOUNDBITES