Dubbed "Talon Vision," the October 16-November 1 wargames will involve joint amphibious landings and other operations to improve the interoperability of the two armed forces, said Philippine Marine spokesman Major Melquiades Ordiales.

The exercises, involving US troops from Okinawa, Japan, will be held in the main northern island of Luzon at former US bases in this country, and in military camps outside Manila, Ordiales said.

The United States and the Philippines are bound by a joint defense accord, and Manila has been a supporter of the US-led "war on terror."

US troops have also been training special Philippine counter-terrorist forces in the southern Philippines, where Muslim extremists linked to the Jemaah Islamiyah and Al-Qaeda networks are active.

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