MANILA: The Philippine military opened two weeks of combat drills on Monday (Nov 4) that would include seizing an island in the disputed South China Sea and likely be frowned upon by China. More than 3,000 Filipino army, navy and air force personnel will take part in the manoeuvres, which Philippine military officials said were not directed against any country. China has rapidly expanded its military and has become i ncreasingly assertive in pursuing territorial claims in the South China Sea,