With a partnership between the U.S. and U.K. that dates back to the 1980s, Red Dagger 17, now in its fourth consecutive year, intends to further share and strengthen knowledge and skills in military engineering between the Marine Corps and its allies. “We have been treated as equals and with great respect,” said Capt. Marcelo A. Garcia, the company commander of 6th ESB, 4th MLG, MARFORRES. “The 131 Commando Squadron often asks for feedback and have insisted that this exercise is meant to be a sharing of best practices, both in tactics and planning.”

China and the US have conducted joint humanitarian and disaster relief exercises at the US Bellows barracks in Hawaii. On Sunday, troops from the two countries practised providing emergency aid to a third country hit by a devastating typhoon.

China’s Sichuan province has turned into a major hub of Pakistan-China bilateral cooperation both in military and socio-economic sectors. Major companies are coming from Chengdu, Sichuan region that are heavily investing in Pakistan, giving boost to their trade and military-to-military relationship.

The Philippines is quietly making arrangements through diplomatic channels for bilateral talks with China without any preconditions to discuss their competing claims in the South China Sea and West Philippine Sea, Foreign Secretary Perfecto Yasay said. The inadequately armed Philippine military cannot fight China in any battle and this is why President Duterte ordered the Navy not to conduct joint patrols in the South China Sea with the US; he said...joint patrols could be seen by China as a provocative act, making it more difficult to peacefully resolve territorial problems.