(240422) -- QUEZON CITY, April 22, 2024 (Xinhua) -- People holding placards are pictured during a protest rally against the Philippines-U.S. joint military drills in front of the gate of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) headquarters in Quezon City, the Philippines, April 22, 2024. More than 16,700 Philippine and U.S. troops started their largest-ever annual joint military drills on Monday amid criticisms that the drills threaten regional peace and stability. According to the Philippine military, the 19-day exercises, dubbed "Balikatan 2024," will involve around 5,000 Philippine and 11,000 U.S. troops, making it the largest iteration of the Philippines-U.S. joint drills conducted in decades. (Xinhua/Rouelle Umali)