MANILA - The US and Philippine forces are holding another joint military exercise, in different areas in Luzon.
And this time, instead of resistance from Muslim rebels, it is the communist New People's Army who're not very happy.
About 5,000 troops are seeing action in the latest of the Balikatan exercises for training in the latest warfare techniques and technology.
As in the recent past, Filipino soldiers are supposed to upgrade their combat skills against homegrown Muslim rebels and regional militants like Jemaah Islamiyah.
But the transfer of the exercise's venue out of Mindanao has alarmed the New People's Army of the Communist Party of the Philippines.
They claim the exercises are just a disguised offensive against local communist insurgents.
Washington had spearheaded the international community's blacklisting of the CPP-NPA as a foreign terrorist organization.
In response, the NPA has threatened to attack American soldiers taking part in the military exercises.
But Balikatan officials say that the exercises will not involve actual combat.
US Charge d'Affaires Jospeh Musomelli said: "The Balikatan isn't meant to be provocative or intimidating to any group. It is purely a training exercise. We will not come anywhere near any areas infested with NPA, ASG or any group for many reasons, Safety of our personnel and Filipino soldiers, primarily."
Still, Balikatan policy allows American soldiers to retaliate if fired upon.
This, coupled with Washington's recent refusal to take the CPP off the terrorist list to promote formal peace talks, send a strong message.
It is not that American troops will not come near the NPAs, but that communist rebels better steer clear of Americans.
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