China calls for stability as US, Philippines start drill

China on Monday called for efforts to safeguard peace and stability in the Asia-Pacific region in response to ongoing joint military exercises run by the United Statesand the Philippines.

"It is in the common interests of all parties concerned to maintain peace and stability in Asia and the Pacific, which demands constructive efforts by all parties," Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying said at a daily press briefing.

"(We) hope that actions taken by the United States and the Philippines will go in this direction as well," said the spokeswoman, urging the two countries to do things "conducive to building mutual trust among countries and maintaining peace and stability in the region."

Troops from the Philippines and the United States formally began on Monday their annual joint military exercises, dubbed Balikatan (or "shoulder-to-shoulder").

The 30th annual joint military drill will involve 3,000 Filipino soldiers and 2,500 American soldiers.