An amphibious assault vehicle from the US Marines prepare to assault onto the beach in San Antonio, Zambales. Also seen at the back is the Philippine Navy's BRP Alcaraz. Philstar.com/Efigenio Toledo IV

American and Filipino troops participate in an Amphibious landing exercise simulating a beach assault during the Annual Balikatan held at San Antonio Zambales, May 9 2018. Philstar.com/Efigenio Toledo IV

American and Filipino troops participate in an Amphibious landing exercise simulating a beach assault during the Annual Balikatan held at San Antonio Zambales, May 9 2018. Philstar.com/Efigenio Toledo IV

American and Filipino troops participate in an Amphibious landing exercise simulating a beach assault during the Annual Balikatan held at San Antonio Zambales, May 9 2018. Philstar.com/Efigenio Toledo IV

American and Filipino troops participate in an Amphibious landing exercise simulating a beach assault during the Annual Balikatan held at San Antonio Zambales, May 9 2018. Philstar.com/Efigenio Toledo IV

U.S. Marines assigned to 2nd Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment and Philippine Marines with 10th Marines Company off load an assault amphibious vehicle during Exercise Balikatan at the Naval Education and Training Center, in San Antonio, Zambales, May 8, 2018. This training is held to further interoperability between the U.S. and the Philippines while conducting amphibious exercises. Exercise Balikatan, in its 34th iteration, is an annual U.S.-Philippine military training exercise focused on a variety of missions, including humanitarian assistance and disaster relief, counterterrorism and other combined military operations held from May 7 to 18. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Pfc. Krysten I. Gomez)

U.S. Marines assigned to 2nd Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment and Philippine Marines with 10th Marines Company provide security on the beach during the exercise Balikatan at the Naval Education and Training Center, in San Antonio, Zambales, Philippines May 8, 2018. This training is held to further interoperability between the U.S. and the Philippines while conducting amphibious exercises. Exercise Balikatan, in its 34th iteration, is an annual U.S.-Philippine military training exercise focused on a variety of missions, including humanitarian assistance and disaster relief, counterterrorism and other combined military operations held from May 7 to 18. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Pfc. Krysten I. Gomez)

U.S. Marine Corps Sgt. Victor Berg, of Philadelphia assigned to Fox Company, 2nd Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment at Camp Lejeune, N.C. provides simulated cover fire during an amphibious exercise (AMPHIBEX) at the Naval Education and Training Command, Naval Station Leovigildo Gantioqui, San Antonio, Zambales, Philippines May 9, 2018 as part of Exercise Balikatan 2018. AMPHIBEX allowed the Philippine and U.S. forces to provide a more capable disaster response effort during operations ashore. Exercise Balikatan, in its 34th iteration, is an annual U.S.-Philippine military training focused on a variety of missions, including humanitarian assistance and disaster relief, counterterrorism, and other combined military operations held from May 7 to May 18. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Nardel Gervacio)

U.S. Marines assigned to 2nd Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment and Philippine Marines with 10th Marines Company ride in an assault amphibious vehicle during an amphibious landing exercise at the Navy Education and Training Command in San Antonio, Zambales, May 9, 2018 during Exercise Balikatan. This training is held to further interoperability between the U.S. and the Philippines while conducting amphibious exercises. Exercise Balikatan, in its 34th iteration, is an annual U.S.-Philippine military training exercise focused on a variety of missions, including humanitarian assistance and disaster relief, counterterrorism and other combined military operations held from May 7 to 18. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Charles Plouffe)

Philippine Marines assigned to 10th Marine Co., Philippine Marine Corps storm a beach after disembarking a Landing Craft, Utility (LCU) during an amphibious exercise (AMPHIBEX) at the Naval Education and Training Command, Naval Station Leovigildo Gantioqui, San Antonio, Zambales, Philippines on 9 May 2018 as part of Exercise Balikatan 2018. The AMPHIBEX allowed the Philippine and U.S. forces to provide a more capable disaster response effort during operations ashore. Exercise Balikatan, in its 34th iteration, is an annual U.S.-Philippine military training focused on a variety of missions, including humanitarian assistance and disaster relief, counterterrorism, and other combined military operations held from May 7 to May 18. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Nardel Gervacio)