At a security conference in New Delhi, the head of the US Pacific Command, Admiral Harry Harris, said that the exercises will be held in the northern part of the Philippine Sea. The timing of the exercise has not been reported, it is only known that they will be held this year, Reuters reported.
The coast is the object of territorial disputes between several states in the region.
The South China Sea holds nearly a third of the world's marine cargo that passes through it and the offshore islands located there are rich in oil.
Apart from China, the islands are claimed by members of ASEAN, Brunei, Vietnam, Malaysia and the Philippines.
