US says military exercises with Philippines 'purely defensive', for force readiness

BEIJING, Feb 15 (Reuters) - U.S.-Philippine military exercises are longstanding, "purely defensive" and intended to maintain force readiness and preserve regional security, a U.S. State Department spokesperson said on Saturday.

The spokesperson was responding in an email to a request for comment after China's defence ministry urged Manila on Friday to withdraw U.S. "Typhon" intermediate-range missiles.

Temporary deployments of U.S. missile capabilities in the Philippines are responsive to growing threats, intended to maintain force readiness and to preserve regional security and stability for all, the spokesperson said.